October Term 2000 · Docket 99-1864
Does race drive North Carolina district lines?
Appellants claim race dominated district drawing. Appellees argue race did not drive the lines.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Dellinger argued the Constitution bars using race as the main factor.
Mr. Stein argued the lower court made clearly erroneous factual findings.
Mr. Stein cited a claim that a more compact district was possible.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether race controlled district boundaries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2000.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
What each side wants
Appellants want the Court to reverse the lower court.
Appellees want the Court to affirm the lower court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
What each side says
Appellants argue race was the predominant factor in drawing lines.
Appellees argue the lower court correctly found race did not dominate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
What the justices asked
Did the lower court make clearly erroneous factual findings?
Could a more compact district have been drawn without race?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
Why it matters
The outcome defines how states may draw legislative districts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-13
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.