The Court’s Second Look: Inside the October 15 Oral Argument in Louisiana v. Callais

The Court’s Second Look: Inside the October 15 Oral Argument in Louisiana v. Callais

By EditorOct 18, 2025
The Supreme Court reheard Louisiana v. Callais on Oct. 15, focusing on whether Louisiana’s intentional creation of a second majority-Black congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments. Louisiana enacted SB 8 in 2024, creating a second majority-Black district after a trial court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the legislature's 2022 congressional map, which consisted of one majority Black district. A three-judge court in the Western District of Louisiana preliminarily enjoined the court-ordered 2024 remedial map on April 30, 2024, as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander after voters sued. The State and intervenor-appellants took a direct appeal to the Supreme Court,…
Case Updates, LAW, , ,
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Missouri, New York, and Louisiana Consider Taking Early Steps Toward Possible Mid-Cycle Map Redraws

Missouri, New York, and Louisiana Consider Taking Early Steps Toward Possible Mid-Cycle Map Redraws

By EditorAug 22, 2025
All three states are laying procedural groundwork but face distinct hurdles: executive hesitation and intra-party risk in Missouri, constitutional lead times in New York, and judicial uncertainty in Louisiana. Missouri: Gov. Mike Kehoe is “assessing options” for a special session after former President Donald Trump urged a 7-1 GOP map. No draft lines have been released, but Republican leaders say any plan would likely split Kansas City’s 5th District to unseat Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. New York: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie confirms leaders are “having discussions” after Gov. Kathy Hochul floated a Texas-style response, yet notes any mid-decade map would require…
Strategy and Politics, , , ,
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U.S. Supreme Court Seeks Fresh Briefs on Louisiana Map, Weighing the Voting Rights Act Against Equal-Protection Limits

U.S. Supreme Court Seeks Fresh Briefs on Louisiana Map, Weighing the Voting Rights Act Against Equal-Protection Limits

By EditorAug 04, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an unsigned order on Aug. 1 asking for supplemental briefs in Louisiana v. Callais, a case that claims Louisiana’s new six-district congressional map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Louisiana and a coalition of Black voters who support the 2024 map must file by Aug. 27; the “non-African American” voters challenging the plan have until Sept. 17, with replies due Oct. 3. The justices already heard oral argument in March but held off any decision in the case, signaling they wanted additional input before deciding whether the second majority-Black district created last year should stand. The…
Redistricting Race Rules, ,
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Experts React to the Supreme Court “Punt” on the Louisiana Voting Rights Case

Experts React to the Supreme Court “Punt” on the Louisiana Voting Rights Case

By EditorJun 28, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court made an extraordinary move on June 27, when it declined to resolve Louisiana v. Callais and instead scheduled the case for a second round of briefing and argument next Term. The unsigned order keeps January 2024’s remedial map (Act 2/SB 8) in place and promises a follow-up directive “in due course” that may add new questions for counsel. An NPR article highlights just how rare this is, quoting several redistricting experts on the matter. Some have called the decision “puzzling,” given the straightforward factual record, while others suggest this decision (or non-decision) by the court could…
Voting Rights Act, ,
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Supreme Court Delays Ruling on Louisiana’s Second Majority‑Black District, Rehearing Slated Next Term

Supreme Court Delays Ruling on Louisiana’s Second Majority‑Black District, Rehearing Slated Next Term

By EditorJun 27, 2025
On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to issue a final verdict on Louisiana’s revised congressional map, which added a second majority‑Black district following a lower court’s finding that the state’s original 2022 map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black representation. Instead, the high court will rehear the case during its next term that begins in October. Justice Thomas included a dissent with the rehearing order. The challenge stems from non‑Black voters who argue the updated map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. A three‑judge panel blocked the map, but the Court previously permitted its use in the 2024 election…
Louisiana, Voting Rights Act, , ,
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U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument : Louisiana v. Callais (Congressional Map)

U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument : Louisiana v. Callais (Congressional Map)

By EditorMay 15, 2025
During the Supreme Court oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais on March 24, 2025, the central issue was whether the congressional map enacted by Louisiana in 2024 appropriately balanced constitutional protections and the requirements of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The Legal Defense Fund (LDF), represented by Stuart Naifeh, argued that the map should be upheld as it fairly acknowledged the political power of Black Louisianians, who constitute one-third of the state's population, by creating two majority-Black districts. This was in contrast to a previous map from 2022 deemed likely to violate the VRA by having only one majority-Black district.…
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Is Louisiana “Begrudgingly” Defending the State’s 2024 Congressional Map?

Is Louisiana “Begrudgingly” Defending the State’s 2024 Congressional Map?

By EditorJan 07, 2025
Louisiana's 2022 congressional map faced a Section 2 vote dilution challenge because it had only one majority-Black district out of 6 in a state where one-third of the population is Black. The lawsuit was successful in that a preliminary injunction was granted on the basis that it was likely that the map violated Section 2 if the case were to go to trial. Louisiana passed a new map with two majority Black districts in early 2024. However, the new map brought new litigation alleging that the 2024 map was an illegal racial gerrymander. A divided federal panel ruled that it…
Racial Gerrymandering, , ,
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Redistricting Update. Week of January 28, 2024: News from FL, LA, MI, MO, NC, and WI.

Redistricting Update. Week of January 28, 2024: News from FL, LA, MI, MO, NC, and WI.

By EditorFeb 01, 2024
Redistricting developments in the states for the week of January 28, 2024. Click on the state button for more news and media. NationalRedistricting fights in these states could determine which party controls the US House (CNN) Florida Florida Supreme Court will consider challenge to DeSantis’ redistricting map Louisiana After a court fight, Louisiana's new congressional map boosts Black political power Louisiana lawmakers approve a new congressional map with a second majority-Black district Michigan Justices decline to intervene in Michigan redistricting dispute (scotusblog) Montana Montana officials discuss map redistricting North Carolina Judge denies injunction request in state Senate redistricting lawsuit Wisconsin…
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Redistricting Update. Week of January 21, 2024: News from FL, LA, MI, WA, and WI.

Redistricting Update. Week of January 21, 2024: News from FL, LA, MI, WA, and WI.

By EditorJan 22, 2024
Redistricting developments in the states for the week of January 21, 2024. Click on the state button for more news and media. NationalWhich states could get new congressional maps in 2024? (abcnews) The Failed Promise of Independent Election Mapmaking (ProPublica) Florida ACLU sues Daytona Beach, saying redistricting was driven by protecting incumbents Louisiana Louisiana lawmakers approve a new congressional map with a second majority-Black district Louisiana Legislature Passes Congressional Map With Two Majority-Black Districts Michigan Michigan’s Secretary of State asks Supreme Court to pause redistricting for 2024 Redistricting commission begins redrawing Detroit-area state House maps Washington Five new maps proposed…
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How Will the Alabama SCOTUS Decision Affect Litigation in Other States?

How Will the Alabama SCOTUS Decision Affect Litigation in Other States?

By EditorJun 15, 2023
The Supreme Court's somewhat "unexpected" ruling on the Section 2 challenge to Alabama's congressional district map has led to questions about what effect it will have in states with ongoing Section 2 litigation. Below are some articles that ask and attempt to answer the question of how the Alabama decision will affect litigation in those states. Texas Litigation: Where Texas redistricting lawsuits stand after U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Alabama case. (Texas Tribune) Arkansas: Plaintiffs hope SCOTUS decision in Alabama case bodes well for Arkansas redistricting lawsuits. (ualrpublicradio.org/) Georgia: Redistricting: Court ruling against Alabama's racially redistricted map could affect Georgia.…
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