Supreme Court tees up Louisiana case on whether racial redistricting is unconstitutional

Source: CBS News

August 1, 2025 / 10:28 PM EDT


The Supreme Court has teed up a major case for next term on whether racial redistricting is unconstitutional.

In a Friday night scheduling order, the high court asked parties to file briefs on whether Louisiana's creation of a second majority-minority House seat violates the 14th or 15th Amendments. The question could significantly curtail efforts to force states to create majority-minority congressional districts.

The order is part of a case from the 2024 term regarding Louisiana's congressional map that justices decided to hold over for re-argument. The justices set a deadline of Aug. 27 for briefs to be filed by appellants on the question. Reply briefs are due Oct. 3, the Friday before the beginning of the 2025 session.

In June, the Supreme Court ordered further arguments over Louisiana's congressional map that was approved by the state's GOP-led legislature and created a second majority-Black district. An order from the court issued on the last day of the 2024 term restored the case to its calendar for reargument. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented from the move to order more arguments and said the court should have decided the case. The move meant the state's map with two majority-Black districts would remain intact for now.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-louisiana-case-racial-whether-racial-redistricting-unconstitutional/