October Term 2005 · Docket 05-204
Can Texas use race to draw a compact district if it is the main reason for the map?
Texas claims it used race to create a compact district. Challengers say the state used race to pack voters and dilute their power.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Paul Smith argued the Texas legislature acted only to maximize Republican representation.
Ms. Perales argued Texas violated the Equal Protection Clause by using race excessively.
Ms. Perales stated the state removed 100,000 Latinos from district 23.
Ms. Perales claimed the state then crafted a razor-thin Latino majority district.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 49-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Texas redrew its congressional map in 2003. The state says it used race to create a compact district. Challengers argue the state used race to pack voters. The Court must decide if this use of race violates the Constitution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 49-17
What each side wants
Texas wants the Court to allow race as a main reason for drawing a compact district.
Challengers want the Court to strike down the map for using race to pack voters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
What each side says
Texas argues that using race to create a compact district is permissible under the law.
Challengers argue that using race to create a thin majority district violates equal protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if race can be a predominant motive for a compact district.
Justice Scalia asked if creating a majority-minority district is a racial reason regardless of compactness.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-17
Why it matters
This case defines how states can use race in redistricting. It determines whether compactness justifies racial considerations. It affects how states draw future congressional maps. It shapes the balance between racial representation and equal protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
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 10, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 115, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 115, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 49-17
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 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 27-54 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 27-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 111, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 111, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-33
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.