October Term 2008 · Docket 07-689
Does the Voting Rights Act require a majority-minority district when crossover voting is high?
the sides that brought the case argue coalition districts satisfy the law. the opposing sides claim only majority-minority districts protect voting rights.
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. Browning argued the Act should encourage a society where race no longer matters.
He stated coalition districts bring races together by fostering political alliances.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned if coalition districts prove the Act succeeded.
Justice Alito asked for a statistical line for significant crossover voting.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It asks whether a district with a minority group under 50 percent can satisfy the statute. The core dispute involves the definition of a protected voting group.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 14, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to accept coalition districts as valid under Section 2.
the opposing sides want the Court to require a majority-minority composition for Section 2 claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue coalition districts foster cross-racial political alliances and reduce the role of race.
the opposing sides argue that only majority-minority districts reliably protect minority voting power under the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if coalition districts show the Act succeeded rather than needing broader application.
Justice Alito asked how much crossover voting statistically makes a difference in district outcomes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-5
Why it matters
The outcome defines how states draw legislative districts. It determines whether race remains a central factor in districting. It shapes the balance between political coalition building and minority representation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
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 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-5
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 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 37-39
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.