Racial Gerrymandering and the Supreme Court

• In Event: Racial and Partisan Gerrymandering: New Approaches for the Next Decade?

Abstract

The Supreme Court decision in Alabama Black Legislative Caucus v. Alabama resulted in a rare liberal majority victory on a voting rights issue. Subsequent decisions in North Carolina and Virginia continue this trend. In this paper, I examine these cases and place them into the context of previous racial redistricting cases since Thornburg v. Gingles, by first describing the structure and evolution of the issue of race and redistricting before the Court, then exploring the fragmented nature of the decisions that shape this area of law. A bipolar equilibrium exists, shaped by a lack of strong agreement on redistricting and race issues in the Court. This equilibrium assures continued uncertainty regarding race and redistricting issues.

Author

• Keith Gaddie, The University of Oklahoma #FrackOn