Opinion ID: 1984918
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exceptions of F. JOSEPH LOEPER, et al.

Text: 1) Erred in enforcing an arbitrary deadline for submission of redistricting plan. 2) Finding of Fact 15 is erroneous insofar as it characterizes the proceeding involving the amended version of the Loeper Plan. 3) Erred in excluding the amended Loeper Plan for consideration. 4) Finding of Fact 16 is erroneous in that the record contains no evidence to support the findings as to party registration balance for all the listed statewide plans, except the Loeper Plan. Finding of Fact 16 is also erroneous in stating the maximum and average deviation of the Murtha-McDade Plan as well as in stating the number of precincts split by that plan as being 22 rather than 30. 5) Fails to make adequate findings regarding the protection of minority voting rights from dilution. 6) Erred in failing to make findings regarding the dilution in minority population that would be effected in Allegheny County by all statewide plans accepted for consideration. 7) Erred in the legal standard applied to the selection process. Standard used was one arguably appropriate for legislatively enacted reapportionment plans. Master should have selected a plan that approached equality of population as nearly as practicable while also protecting voting rights. 8) The recommended plan by the Master has an unacceptably high deviation from equal population. 9) Erred in relying on maximum and average deviation for the selected plan. 10) Erred in recommending a plan for Allegheny County that produces a result contrary to the Findings of Fact at Nos. 27 and 28. 11) Erred in recommending the elimination of the present 5th District and in effectively eliminating the present 18th District since every other district west of the Alleghenies suffered a greater population decline. 12) Erred in not recommending the adoption of the amended Loeper Plan. Intervenors request the adoption of the amended Loeper Plan or the Court to design its own plan or remand to the Master for further proceedings.