Bolts Magazine reports that the chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Max Baer, passed away on Friday. He had long been a strong supporter of voting rights, ruling against efforts to undermine the right to vote through partisan gerrymandering and, more recently, ruling against Donald Trump’s efforts, in 2020, to overturn the election results in that state.

Baer’s death raises the stakes of an already high profile governor’s race. Rick Hasen is among those quoted about the legal and political implications of this vacancy on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Condolences to Chief Justice Baer’s family and friends during this time.