October Term 2023 · Docket 22-807
Does preserving a district's shape prove race did not drive its creation?
Appellants claim political goals drove the map. Appellees argue race predominated in the line drawing.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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 argue the legislature pursued a political goal of increasing Republican vote share.
Appellees argue the state defendants disclaimed race but the disparities suggest otherwise.
argument_detail
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-19
- 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 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how courts weigh evidence when race and politics overlap in redistricting.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 11, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-9
What each side wants
Appellants want the court to reverse the lower court's finding of a racial gerrymander.
Appellees want the court to affirm the lower court's finding that race predominated.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
What each side says
Appellants argue the legislature preserved the district's shape based on traditional criteria and politics.
Appellees argue the district's shape reflects a racial intent despite political correlations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if an alternative study controlling for geography reached a different result.
Justice Alito asked if the prior case involved direct evidence of intent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-9
Why it matters
The outcome defines how courts distinguish between political and racial motives in map drawing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
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 33-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 138, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 138, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-9
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 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-37
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.