Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Voting Rights Act. The Court’s ruling in a Louisiana gerrymandering case could impact recent victories for voting rights groups and change how lower courts interpret the Act.
On Monday, the Supreme Court directed a Mississippi case back to the U.S. District Court for reassessment due to the recent Louisiana v. Callais decision. Justice Jackson disagreed with this approach, highlighting that Section 2’s private enforceability was not addressed in the Louisiana decision. She argued there was no reason to invalidate the lower court’s judgment.
In September, the Supreme Court limited Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Section 2 governs how states can create electoral districts involving minority voters. The ruling in Louisiana v. Callais scrutinized whether adding a second majority-Black district to Louisiana’s congressional map constituted racial gerrymandering.
The justices concluded states could regard compliance with the Voting Rights Act as a significant interest during redistricting. However, they ruled that Louisiana wasn’t obligated to include a second majority-Black district. This decision aligned with a lower court’s stance against the state’s proposed map.
The Supreme Court’s judgment could lead to numerous legal disputes concerning congressional maps. Plaintiffs may face greater challenges in contesting these boundaries, as they must demonstrate racial discrimination intent.