Redistricting Tested in the Supreme Court

Free Speech & Election Law and Civil Rights Practice Groups Teleforum

On December 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on two redistricting cases, Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections and McCrory v. Harris.  After the movement of population, both Virginia and North Carolina legislatures redrew plans for their state legislative districts.  However, plaintiffs in each state challenged the plans as racial gerrymanders diluting the vote of African-American voters.  Both cases raise the question of how to comply with the Voting Rights Act requirement that racial minorities have the ability to elect representatives of their choice, along with the Constitutional prohibition of race predominating in the drawing of plans.  The Court will be also be asked to clarify the acceptable ways to consider minority populations in drawing plans, what plaintiffs need to show to prove a racial gerrymander, and what would trigger strict scrutiny.
 

Featuring:

• Ms. Maya M. Noronha, Associate, Baker & Hostetler LLP

On December 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on two redistricting cases, Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections and McCrory v. Harris.  After the movement of population, both Virginia and North Carolina legislatures redrew plans for their state legislative districts.  However, plaintiffs in each state challenged the plans as racial gerrymanders diluting the vote of African-American voters.  Both cases raise the question of how to comply with the Voting Rights Act requirement that racial minorities have the ability to elect representatives of their choice, along with the Constitutional prohibition of race predominating in the drawing of plans.  The Court will be also be asked to clarify the acceptable ways to consider minority populations in drawing plans, what plaintiffs need to show to prove a racial gerrymander, and what would trigger strict scrutiny.
 

Featuring:

• Ms. Maya M. Noronha, Associate, Baker & Hostetler LLP

Call begins at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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