The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in a case that challenges the legality of Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District. Louisiana Solicitor General Ben Aguiñaga told the justices that state leaders drew a second majority Black district to comply with a previous federal court order.
That order required Louisiana comply with a section of the Voting Rights Act that gives fair representation to Black voters. As Louisiana Public Radio reports, Aguiñaga asked the court to uphold the state’s current map, which stretches from East Baton Rouge to Caddo Parish. “We’d rather not be back at the podium this fall defending a new map against a new challenge.”
Louisiana leaders have also said they want to keep the map to protect incumbent Republican representatives. The plaintiffs, a group of Louisiana voters who identify as non-African American, say the map violates the Equal Protection Clause, which says you cannot use race as the primary factor in how district boundaries are drawn. A ruling on the case is expected in June.
