October Term 2016 · Docket 15-680
Does a racial target alone trigger strict scrutiny?
Appellants argue a 55 percent floor violates the Constitution. Appellees claim the district court wrongly required a conflict with traditional principles.
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
Mr. Elias argued the district court created a new legal standard.
Mr. Gornstein argued a racial target does not trigger strict scrutiny.
Mr. Clement described the 2011 redistricting as a bipartisan success.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-30
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Virginia redrew its House of Delegates districts in 2011. The state applied a 55 percent racial floor to twelve districts. Appellants claim this practice violates the Equal Protection Clause. Appellees argue the district court correctly applied the law. The Supreme Court must define the legal standard for racial gerrymandering claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
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 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-36
What each side wants
Appellants want the Court to strike down the 55 percent racial floor.
Appellees want the Court to affirm the district court's legal standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
What each side says
Appellants argue the district court invented a new legal standard.
Appellees argue a racial target alone does not trigger strict scrutiny.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if avoiding a Voting Rights Act violation equals predominance.
Justice Breyer asked if traditional districting factors were irrelevant in this case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-30
Why it matters
This case defines when racial targets trigger strict scrutiny. It shapes how states draw legislative districts. It balances voting rights with equal protection. It sets the standard for future redistricting litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
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 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-30
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 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
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.