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Supreme Court’s Colorblind Ruling Overturns Race-Based Precedent, Enables Alabama Redistricting

6/23/2026

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Supreme Court Colorblind

On June 2, the Supreme Court issued a shadow-docket opinion declaring the Constitution “colorblind,” overturning prior race-considerate precedent.
The Court declined to hear United States v. Donte J. Carter, so the D.C. Court of Appeals decision remains in force.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said the court’s racial statistics use was real racism.
The ruling let Alabama redraw its map, removing a Black-lawyer district and raising voter power.

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Alito Warns

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented, warning that the Carter case forces police to apply rules based on race.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear United States v. Donte J. Carter, leaving D.C. Court of Appeals decision intact.
The D.C. Court of Appeals vacated Carter’s firearm-theft convictions, citing lack of reasonable suspicion.
Alito argued that treating individuals differently on statistical assumptions about race violates Constitution’s color-blind principle.

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Supreme Court Colorblind

On June 2, the Supreme Court issued a shadow-docket opinion declaring the Constitution “colorblind,” overturning prior race-considerate precedent.
The Court declined to hear United States v. Donte J. Carter, so the D.C. Court of Appeals decision remains in force.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said the court’s racial statistics use was real racism.
The ruling let Alabama redraw its map, removing a Black-lawyer district and raising voter power.

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