Story perspectives

Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Map, Citing Constitution

4/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s map violates Constitution.
Attorney General Liz Murrill called decision seismic and said a map will be drafted by May 16 primary.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority, holding race may be considered in extreme cases and cannot satisfy Section 2 of Voting Rights Act.
Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented, warning ruling nullifies Section 2 of Voting Rights Act.

History

Historical Context

After the 1990 census, North Carolina’s 12th district led the 1993 Supreme Court’s 5-4 Shaw v. Reno decision, applying strict scrutiny to racial gerrymandering under the Equal Protection Clause. The ruling shaped later cases like Miller v. Johnson and underpins the Court’s recent 6-3 ruling that permits limited racial factors while nullifying Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, forcing Louisiana to redraw maps before May 16 primaries.

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Story summary

U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s map violates Constitution.
Attorney General Liz Murrill called decision seismic and said a map will be drafted by May 16 primary.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority, holding race may be considered in extreme cases and cannot satisfy Section 2 of Voting Rights Act.
Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented, warning ruling nullifies Section 2 of Voting Rights Act.

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