October Term 2012 · Docket 12-96
Does the Voting Rights Act coverage formula remain constitutional?
Shelby County argues the formula is outdated. The government argues it remains necessary.
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
General Verrilli stated the Act transformed racist vote suppression.
Mr. Adegbile cited the record supporting the renewal of preclearance.
Mr. Rein noted eight Justices raised a constitutional question in 2009.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Shelby County seeks to strike down the coverage formula. The government defends the formula's validity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
What each side wants
Shelby County wants the Court to invalidate the coverage formula.
The government wants the Court to uphold the coverage formula.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
What each side says
Shelby County argues the formula relies on outdated data.
The government argues the formula addresses ongoing discrimination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the formula should apply today.
Justice Kennedy asked why the county is injured under this formula.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-15
Why it matters
The formula determines which jurisdictions need federal approval for voting changes. This affects how states manage elections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
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 11-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-15
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 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-17
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.