Maryland high court grants expedited review of Prince George’s County redistricting case

On January 31, 2022, the Prince George’s County Circuit Court enjoined the implementation of the County Council’s controversial new map for council districts. See Rachel Chason, Prince George’s judge throws out divisive redistricting map approved by county council, Washington Post (Jan. 31, 2022).

Today, the Court of Appeals of Maryland granted the County’s petition for certiorari, bypassing intermediate review in the Court of Special Appeals. The Court of Appeals also issued this Media Advisory:

The Court of Appeals of Maryland granted a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in Prince George’s County v. Robert E. Thurston, et al.  The case involves an appeal of an order issued by the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County invalidating the Prince George’s County redistricting map approved by the County Council.
 
The Order is located here. By separate order In the Matter of 2022 Legislative Districting of the State, the Court extended certain election deadlines to provide adequate time for judicial review.

The case is transferred to the Court of Appeals regular docket as No. 63, September Term, 2021.  The Court also scheduled expedited briefing, as noted below.

Briefing Schedule:
February 18 at 4:30 p.m.:                   Deadline for e-filing of appellant’s briefs and printed record extracts 
February 25 at 4:30 p.m.:                   Deadline for e-filing of appellees’ briefs
March 1 at 4:30 p.m.:                         Deadline for e-filing of appellant’s reply brief

Oral arguments will be held virtually on Friday, March 4, 2022, and webcast on the Court of Appeals’ website at: https://www.courts.state.md.us/coappeals/webcasts.