Experts say that this ruling could pave the way for states run by Republicans to eliminate minority-led districts that often favor Democrats, but it may be difficult to redraw those district lines before this fall’s midterm elections because primaries are already well underway in many places. In *** 6 to 3 ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court scrapped this black majority congressional district in Louisiana, one of two in the state, prompting celebrations from Republicans. They determined that the last map that was drawn for Louisiana was done. Unconstitutionally, and we’ve been saying that consistently from the beginning and backlash from Democrats. It is *** devastating day in the quest for racial justice. The court’s majority said race played too big of *** role in the map drawing process, and it’s part of *** broader trend for the conservative leaning bench, according to this two-lane law professor. And the court has been suspicious for *** while now of the use of race not only to draw district lines. But in other circumstances, the ripple effects could be wide reaching because of how the ruling impacts Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, *** landmark civil rights era law designed to prevent discrimination in elections. It does not strike down Section 2 outright, but liberal justices argue it effectively decimates it. In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan said the decision allows states to, quote, without legal consequence, systematically. minority citizens’ voting power, which means presumably there’ll be very much fewer representatives of those groups in state legislatures and in Congress, so it’s going to have *** pretty drastic impact. And according to one estimate from an election law expert, nearly 70 of the 435 congressional districts across the country are protected by Section 2. Reporting on Washington, I’m Jackie DeFusco.
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Supreme Court justices are not “political actors,” Chief Justice John Roberts said Wednesday, insisting unpopular court decisions are based solely on the law.“I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we’re saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides,” he said. “I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do.”His remarks to a conference of judges and lawyers from the 3rd U.S. Circuit in Pennsylvania came at a time of low public confidence in the court, and about a week after the court handed down a decision that hollowed out the Voting Rights Act.Related video above: How SCOTUS’ decision on Louisiana voting district could impact minority representationThe high court struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, finding it was an unconstitutional gerrymander based on race. The decision weakened the Civil Rights era law that had increased minority representation in Congress, and it opened the door for more redistricting across the country that could aid Republican efforts to control the House.In recent years, the conservative majority court has also handed down landmark rulings overturning the constitutional right to abortion, expanding gun rights and ending affirmative action in higher education.Roberts didn’t reference any specific decisions in his remarks, but said the court is “simply not part of the political process.”Opinions, he said, are based on the Constitution — though he acknowledged disagreement with some outcomes. “One thing we have to do is make decisions that are unpopular,” he said.Criticism, he said, should focus on rulings rather than personal attacks. He condemned the targeting of lower-court judges, a sentiment he’s repeated amid rising threats to the judiciary. “That’s not appropriate, and it can lead to very serious problems,” he said.High-profile criticism of judges in personal terms has come from Republican President Donald Trump, who also targeted Roberts and other justices who voted against him in the opinion that struck down tariffs the president levied under an emergency-powers law.
Supreme Court justices are not “political actors,” Chief Justice John Roberts said Wednesday, insisting unpopular court decisions are based solely on the law.
“I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we’re saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides,” he said. “I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do.”
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His remarks to a conference of judges and lawyers from the 3rd U.S. Circuit in Pennsylvania came at a time of low public confidence in the court, and about a week after the court handed down a decision that hollowed out the Voting Rights Act.
Related video above: How SCOTUS’ decision on Louisiana voting district could impact minority representation
The high court struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, finding it was an unconstitutional gerrymander based on race. The decision weakened the Civil Rights era law that had increased minority representation in Congress, and it opened the door for more redistricting across the country that could aid Republican efforts to control the House.
In recent years, the conservative majority court has also handed down landmark rulings overturning the constitutional right to abortion, expanding gun rights and ending affirmative action in higher education.
Roberts didn’t reference any specific decisions in his remarks, but said the court is “simply not part of the political process.”
Opinions, he said, are based on the Constitution — though he acknowledged disagreement with some outcomes. “One thing we have to do is make decisions that are unpopular,” he said.
Criticism, he said, should focus on rulings rather than personal attacks. He condemned the targeting of lower-court judges, a sentiment he’s repeated amid rising threats to the judiciary. “That’s not appropriate, and it can lead to very serious problems,” he said.
High-profile criticism of judges in personal terms has come from Republican President Donald Trump, who also targeted Roberts and other justices who voted against him in the opinion that struck down tariffs the president levied under an emergency-powers law.
