Georgia v. Ashcroft
United States Supreme Court
539 U.S. 461 (2003)
- Written by Philip Glass, JD
Facts
Georgia's 1997 redistricting scheme created 10 African American voting-age majority-minority districts. An additional African American majority-minority district existed as well. The results of the 2000 census led to another redistricting in Georgia. The census results indicated the change of one county from majority to majority-minority. The redistricting scheme drew 13 voting-age African American majority-minority districts. Besides the three newly added majority-minority districts, Georgia created several influence districts. African Americans would wield indispensable electoral influence in these districts. However, African Americans would comprise a numerical minority in influence districts. Georgia created eight new majority-minority or coalitional districts to enhance minority electoral clout. The Democratic Party dominated virtually all of the 20-plus percent African American districts. This plan garnered the support of Congressman John Lewis. The district court ruled that this redistricting scheme violated § 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (O'Connor, J.)
Concurrence (Kennedy, J.)
Dissent (Souter, J.)
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