October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1086
Does Alabama's 2021 map violate the Voting Rights Act?
Appellants claim the state ignored racial data. Appellees argue the map dilutes Black voting power.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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 claim Alabama retained existing districts and equalized population lawfully.
Appellees state voting in Alabama is intensely racially polarized.
Appellees argue the Black Belt is a historic and significant community.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how courts evaluate racial intent in redistricting.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 4, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-11
What each side wants
Appellants want the Court to reverse the lower court's finding of vote dilution.
Appellees want the Court to affirm the lower court's finding of vote dilution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
What each side says
Appellants argue the state used race-neutral principles and met legal standards.
Appellees argue the map intentionally dilutes Black voting power in a historic community.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
What the justices asked
Justice Jackson asked if the Gingles preconditions were satisfied in this case.
Justice Kagan asked if intent is required to prove a violation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-1
Why it matters
The outcome defines how courts measure racial intent in redistricting disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
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 35-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-1
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 39-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.