Supreme Court to weigh use of race in redistricting

US Supreme Court hears arguments over Louisiana electoral map

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday over a challenge to Louisiana’s recently redrawn voting map and its two Black-majority districts. Plaintiffs claimed that the map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The Civil Rights Era statute aimed to end voter suppression practices in southern states and specifically prohibits “the denial or abridgment of the right to vote on account of race or color.” Defendants, comprised of L…

Racial Gerrymanders Had a Bad Day at the Supreme Court

Supreme Court Grapples With Louisiana Voting Rights Act Case

The Supreme Court on March 24 grappled with a much-litigated racial gerrymandering case from Louisiana involving two consolidated cases: Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais. Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular party or constituency. The case came after the Supreme Court in June 2023 struck down on a 5–4 vote Alabama’s electoral map for congressional elections, ruling that it…

Supreme Court seems divided over Louisiana case of congressional map with 2 Black majority seats - American Press

The Supreme Court seemed closely divided Monday over a challenge to Louisiana’s congressional map, which added a second Black majority district. Several of the court’s conservative justices suggested they could vote to throw out the map and make it harder, if not impossible, to bring redistricting lawsuits under the Voting Rights Act. The case involves the interplay between race and politics in drawing political boundaries in front of a conserva…

The Supreme Court Just Put the Voting Rights Act in Its Crosshairs Again

Chief Justice John Roberts couldn't conceal his contempt for a map that gave fair representation to Black Louisianians.

Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Key Redistricting Case

THE CENTER SQUARE—The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a critical case regarding Louisiana’s redrawn congressional districts on Monday. The state is defending the existing map and plaintiffs seek an overturn on grounds of racial gerrymander. The case could be pivotal as justices could examine the criteria required of state legislatures under the Voting Rights Act when it comes to balancing representation of minority groups with the dra…