Bloomberg Law Supreme Court Mulls Limiting Race-Based Voting Maps & Reagan-Era Judges Push Back
Oct 16, 2025
Elections law expert Richard Briffault from Columbia Law School discusses the Supreme Court's inclination to limit race-based electoral districts, emphasizing the complexities of the Voting Rights Act and its implications for redistricting. He outlines the potential impacts on midterm elections and the broader consequences for voting rights. Meanwhile, Bloomberg Law reporter Jacqueline Thomsen highlights Reagan-era judges who are pushing back against the Trump administration, revealing their commitment to the rule of law amid escalating executive power challenges.
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When Race Can Guide Redistricting
- The core legal issue is how much states may consider race when drawing districts to remedy past discrimination.
- The case centers on whether remedial use of race under Section 2 remains a compelling interest or must be narrowly limited.
High Court Revisits Longstanding Precedent
- The Court revisited precedent like Shaw and Jingles to decide if Section 2 compliance is a compelling interest.
- Justices debated whether to overturn or reinterpret decades-old Voting Rights Act case law.
Conservatives Are Split On The Scope
- Conservatives on the Court vary from banning race consideration to allowing narrow remedial uses.
- Some justices seek ways to limit Section 2's reach without formally overturning it.
