Category Archives: Voting Rights Act
Pam Karlan: Why Section 2 Matters to *Existing* Minority-Opportunity Districts
The following is an important guest post from Pam Karlan:
In a recent post describing his amicus brief in Louisiana v. Callais, Nick Stephanopoulos points out a “large decline in racially-polarized voting” in many jurisdictions may preclude plaintiffs… Continue reading
Amicus Brief on the Fifteenth Amendment in Louisiana v. Callais
Another ELB contributor has entered the Callais fray. Today, I filed an amicus brief in support of the Robinson appellants in this fall’s blockbuster voting rights case, Louisiana v. Callais. You can find my amicus brief here. Thanks to… Continue reading
Plaintiffs File Cert Petition in Turtle Mountain Band Case on Whether Private Plaintiffs Have the Right to Sue to Enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (More than 90% of Suits Have Been Brought This Way Since 1982)
This cert petition follows from the Supreme Court’s order putting the Eighth Circuit ruling on hold pending resolution of this cert petition. See also my earlier Slate coverage of the stakes.
“The Future of Voting Rights Is on the Line at the Supreme Court”
Here’s a transcript of a bit of my Slate Amicus podcast conversation with Dahlia Lithwick:
Can you just explain to us what happens if Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is no longer the mechanism by which voters can… Continue reading
Announcing the Safeguarding Democracy Project’s Fall Lineup of Events and Webinars, Focused on the Fairness and Integrity of the 2026 Midterms
The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections
Tuesday, September 16, 12:15pm-1:15pm PT, Webinar
Register here.
Ben Haiman, UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice, Liz Howard, NYU Law Brennan Center for Justice, and Stephen Richer, Ash Center for Democratic Governance… Continue reading
State of Louisiana, in Motion for Divided Argument for the Supreme Court “Vehemently” Takes the Position that the Creation of a Race-Conscious District as Required by the Voting Rights Act is Unconstitutional
The mask is truly off.
I Spoke with Dahlia Lithwick for Slate Amicus Podcast on the Risks to the Voting Rights Act at the Supreme Court and the Emerging Redistricting Wars
Slate Plus listeners can find the podcast here.
With Louisiana Essentially Flipping Sides in Callais Case Before Supreme Court and Arguing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is Unconstitutional, Full Defense Shifts to Voting Rights Groups
As noted yesterday, Louisiana essentially flipped sides in the Lousiana v. Callais case. In an earlier brief, Louisiana argued that its congressional districts were not a racial gerrymander because politics, rather than race, predominated in drawing district lines. Now… Continue reading
“Louisiana urges Supreme Court to bar use of race in redistricting, in attack on Voting Rights Act”
Mark Sherman for the AP:
Louisiana on Wednesday abandoned its defense of a political map that elected two Black members of Congress and instead called on the Supreme Court to reject any consideration of race in redistricting in a case… Continue reading
“Of Course the Voting Rights Act Would Die at This Moment”
Linda Greenhouse NYT column.
“Advocates File Immediate Legal Challenge to Texas Gerrymander “
Democracy Docket:
Hours after Texas lawmakers approved a new gerrymandered congressional map Saturday morning, Texans asked a court to block it.
The plaintiffs*, a group of Black and Latino Texans, filed an amended complaint in an ongoing challenge to… Continue reading
“Mississippi Supreme Court election map dilutes Black voters’ power, judge rules”
Reuters:
A federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its election map used in voting for state supreme court justices after finding the current one dilutes the power of Black voters in violation of a landmark federal voting rights law.… Continue reading
New Section 2 Lawsuit Filed in Montana
Release:
On August 14, 2025, the Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and two Native voters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana challenging Chouteau County’s unfair, at-large voting system for… Continue reading