October Term 2015 · Docket 14-232
Does the Constitution allow small population differences in state districts?
Appellants argue the Arizona map violates equal protection. The state argues Voting Rights Act compliance justifies the variance.
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
Appellants argue the map violates equal protection.
The state argues the variance is constitutionally permitted.
The state claims Voting Rights Act compliance explains the design.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-10
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Appellants want the Court to strike down the Arizona map. They claim unequal populations violate the Equal Protection Clause. The state wants the map to stand. It argues the variance serves a valid federal purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-16
What each side wants
Appellants want the Court to invalidate the Arizona map.
The state wants the Court to uphold the Arizona map.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
What each side says
Appellants argue unequal populations violate the Equal Protection Clause.
The state argues de minimis deviations are permitted by the Constitution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if appellants contest the predominant motive finding.
Justice Kennedy asked if appellants want to overturn the factual finding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-10
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of population equality in redistricting. It determines whether states can deviate from perfect equality. The outcome shapes how states draw legislative districts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
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 11, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-10
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 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-18 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 26-18 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 26-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-18
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.