The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 30, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court was expected to announce an opinion June 27th in Louisiana v. Callais, one of the most important voting rights cases of the year. Instead, in a highly unusual move, the court ordered new arguments in the case pitting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 against the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protections Clause.
We’ve followed this case since 2022, after the Louisiana legislature racially gerrymandered its voting districts to dilute Black voting power. Louisiana’s population is 33% African American, but in only one Congressional district out of six could Black voters have a realistic chance of electing a candidate of their choice.
After a lower court ordered a second majority minority Congressional district, a group of QUOTE “non-African-American individuals” appealed, claiming the districts were discriminatory and unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment – essentially that the districts discriminated against White voters. The high court heard the case in March 2024.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito consistently oppose exceptions for minority groups in voting, education and other issues. Indeed, Thomas dissented on the delay, saying “the conflict its (VRA) Section 2 jurisprudence has sown with the Constitution is too severe to ignore.”
Expect new arguments to be scheduled for this fall.
We’ve linked the delay order and Thomas’ fiery dissent at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
The American Redistricting Project – Callais v. Louisiana
American Democracy Minute – Will Louisiana v. Callais Be the Latest Blow Against the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by SCOTUS?
Brennan Center for Justice – Voting Rights Act Returns to the Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court – LOUISIANA, APPELLANT 24–109 v. PHILLIP CALLAIS, ET AL.
SCOTUS Blog – Supreme Court punts decision on Louisiana’s congressional map to next term
NPR – Where the Voting Rights Act stands after the Supreme Court punts on a Louisiana case
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU, Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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