October Term 2016 · Docket 15-1262
Did race or politics drive North Carolina district lines?
North Carolina officials and voters dispute whether race or politics shaped two congressional maps.
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
Paul Clement argued four judges found politics drove the lines.
Ms. Saharsky argued the district looks terrible and race may have driven it.
Justice Kagan asked if the court should require plaintiffs to draw maps.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 4-36 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 4-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-18
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
North Carolina officials and voters dispute whether race or politics shaped two congressional maps.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 5, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 4-36 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 4-36
What each side wants
North Carolina officials want the court to find politics drove the lines.
Voters want the court to find race drove the lines.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
What each side says
Officials argue four judges found politics was the main motive.
Voters argue the district judge credited race as the main motive.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the court credited one witness over another.
Justice Kagan asked if the court should require plaintiffs to draw maps.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 4-36 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 4-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-18
Why it matters
This case defines how courts weigh race against politics in redistricting. It sets the standard for proving discriminatory intent. It affects how states draw future legislative lines.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
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 46-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 4-36 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 4-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-18
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 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-36 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-12
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.