A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ordered state Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, to pay the League of Women Voters’ attorney fees, finding the senator improperly removed the group’s challenge over Pennsylvania’s congressional map to federal court.

U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ordered Scarnati to personally pay $29,000 to the league’s lawyers to cover the fees resulting from Scarnati’s attempt to have the gerrymandering challenge litigated in federal court.