Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the racial redistricting requirement that led to the state creating a second Black-majority congressional district.
The case, Louisiana v. Callais, stems from a court order mandating compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court previously avoided ruling on the issue but scheduled rearguments for Oct. 15 to decide whether such maps violate the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments.
In a brief filed Wednesday, Murrill argued that race-based redistricting is unconstitutional and declined to defend the map Louisiana created under judicial pressure. She criticized the longstanding precedent from the 1986 case Thornburg v. Gingles, which provides the framework for Section 2 challenges, saying it is “unworkable” and should be overturned.
“Louisiana’s experience suggests that Gingles cannot be reformed and should be overruled,” Murrill wrote, adding that states need clarity to avoid costly and repeated litigation after every redistricting cycle.
The outcome could have broad implications for other states that established minority-majority districts under Section 2. A decision striking down the mandate would reshape how federal courts evaluate racial considerations in redistricting, potentially limiting the Voting Rights Act’s reach.
The justices’ decision will be closely watched, as mid-decade redistricting efforts are underway in several states independent of the case.
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