Category Archives: Voting Rights Act

April Argument Review IV – Race Discrimination and Voting

On April 24, the Court heard arguments in Abbott v. Perez, the third redistricting case that the justices have heard this Term. Unlike the other cases, Gill v. Whitford and Benisek v. Lamone, which involved partisan gerrymandering, this case involves allegations of racially discriminatory redistricting in violation of the Voting Rights Act and/or the Equal Protection Clause. … Continue reading April Argument Review IV – Race Discrimination and Voting

The Week Ahead – December 5, 2016

The Court will kick off this week by hearing oral arguments in Bethune-Hill v. Virginia Board of Elections on Monday. After the Virginia General Assembly redrew its legislative districts, the plaintiffs sued, alleging that race was a predominant factor in the redistricting. The Court will have to decide if Virginia’s political leaders unconstitutionally gerrymandered the … Continue reading The Week Ahead – December 5, 2016

Mississippi Burning at the Supreme Court

On Monday, President Obama awarded Medals of Freedom to James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of their deaths. Early in the summer of 1964, the three men were working with the Mississippi voter registration drive known as “Freedom Summer.” Local police arrested them for a supposed traffic violation … Continue reading Mississippi Burning at the Supreme Court

Behind the Decisions of 2012

The 2012 Term of the Supreme Court wrapped up with many important decisions. The faculty of Chicago-Kent College of Law goes behind the decisions to explain what happened, why, and what it means for the future.

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After The Decision: The Voting Rights Act

Case: Shelby County v. Holder Last month in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law created to counter discriminatory voting laws. At the time, Congress was concerned that it would be easy for jurisdictions to pass new laws or regulations that … Continue reading After The Decision: The Voting Rights Act

Professor Shapiro On A Double Standard In The Court

This blockbuster week of Supreme Court decisions brought us two particular rulings of note. In her blog post, ISCOTUS Director and Chicago-Kent College of Law Professor Carolyn Shapiro examines the opinions in cases with a similar result of less federal oversight, but opposite ideological majorities of Justices. The cases: Shelby County v. Holder (Voting Rights … Continue reading Professor Shapiro On A Double Standard In The Court

Today’s voting rights oral argument

Shelby County v. Holder, the case challenging the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, has gotten a lot of attention. But another very important voting rights case was argued on March 18 in the Supreme Court. This case, Arizona v. Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, involves a challenge to Arizona’s requirement that people … Continue reading Today’s voting rights oral argument