THE CENTER SQUARE—The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a critical case regarding Louisiana’s redrawn congressional districts on Monday.
The state is defending the existing map and plaintiffs seek an overturn on grounds of racial gerrymander. The case could be pivotal as justices could examine the criteria required of state legislatures under the Voting Rights Act when it comes to balancing representation of minority groups with the drawing of geographically compact districts.
The court heard arguments from Louisiana Solicitor General Ben Aguinaga in the combined Louisiana v. Callais case. The state was required to add a second majority-minority district to the six districts by a court order last year.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor suggested that one of the maps offered by the original plaintiffs would have been a better solution since it was more…
