October Term 2017 · Docket 17-333
Can courts fix partisan gerrymanders?
Appellants seek a court order to redraw Maryland districts. Appellees oppose this remedy.
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. Sullivan argued the First Amendment claim fails. He cited a lack of a manageable standard.
Mr. Kimberly argued the Court has Article III authority. He cited the First Amendment as the basis.
Mr. Sullivan argued redistricting is inherently political. He questioned how to eliminate all partisanship.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether federal courts can resolve partisan gerrymandering claims. The parties dispute the proper legal standard and remedy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
What each side wants
Appellants want a court order to redraw the district.
Appellees want the lower court to deny the injunction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
What each side says
Appellants argue the First Amendment provides a manageable standard.
Appellees argue the First Amendment claim lacks a manageable standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked what practical terms the remedy requires.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about irreparable harm and election delays.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-49
Why it matters
This dispute defines the role of courts in redistricting. It shapes how voters challenge political maps. It impacts the balance of power in state legislatures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
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 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-49
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 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
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.