October Term 2002 · Docket 01-1437
Can state courts fix unfair district maps without federal approval?
Branch and Smith dispute whether state judges can redraw electoral maps without federal pre-clearance.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Branch argues state courts have fixed unfair maps for forty years.
Smith argues federal law requires approval before state courts act.
Justice Stevens asked if the state court plan received federal approval.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Branch and Smith argue over state court power to fix unfair district maps.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
What each side wants
Branch wants state courts to fix unfair maps without federal approval.
Smith wants federal approval before state courts fix unfair maps.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
What each side says
Branch argues state courts have fixed unfair maps for forty years.
Smith argues federal law requires approval before state courts act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the state court plan received federal approval.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
Why it matters
This case defines who controls fair district maps. It shapes how citizens vote in local elections. It affects the balance of power between state and federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
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 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
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 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 5-27
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.