The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state's congressional maps are unconstitutional.

The decision came after a lawsuit was filed by a group of Democratic voters who argued the districts were gerrymandered to benefit Republicans.

Though registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 5 to 4 in the state, 13 of 18 House of Representatives seats currently are held by Republicans, they argued.

The term gerrymandering is used to describe electoral districts that are intentionally drawn to give advantage to one political party.

The state Legislature and governor must come up with a new map, that isn't gerrymandered, before the May primary elections, the court said.

The current maps were devised in 2012, using data from the 2010 census, by a five-person Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

All of Butler County is included in the 3rd Congressional District and is represented by Rep. Mike Kelly.

“Today's misguided decision by the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court is an unfortunate example of the judicial branch inserting itself into the core functions of the legislative branch,” said a statement issued Monday from Kelly's office by the state Republican congressional delegation.

State Rep. Tedd Nesbit, R-8th, said that he believes the decision to be an overreach by the court.

“They shouldn't be able to redraw the map. Under what authority would they be doing that?” Nesbit said.

A full story appears in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.