State Senator Won't Have To Pay Legal Bills For Pa. Gerrymandering Case, Court Says

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A federal appeals court is reversing a judge's decision to make a high-ranking Pennsylvania state senator personally pay $29,000 in legal bills for lawyers who successfully challenged Pennsylvania's congressional districts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Wednesday that Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati had been sued in his professional capacity, so he can't be liable personally.

The court left in place the ruling that lawyers for the plaintiffs should be reimbursed, but didn't specify who must pay.

Scarnati lawyer Matt Haverstick says that's a call Scarnati will make. He says a decision about further appeals is under review.

Scarnati, a Republican, moved the case from state court to federal court, but co-defendants who needed to agree didn't go along with it or weren't consulted.