Abbott v. Perez Oral Argument

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in Abbott v. Perez, a consolidated case concerning redistricting in Texas. This case dates o 2011 when the state House and congressional districts were redrawn. Various voters disputed the maps and filed suit claiming the maps violated the Fourteenth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act by discriminating against minority voters. The state of Texas went to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to get pre-clearance of the new maps as required by federal law. In 2012, with no ruling from the D.C. District Court and with deadlines approaching for the primary election, a Texas court adopted interim maps. In August 2012, the D.C. court denied pre-clearance for the maps, citing Voting Rights Act violations. Texas used the state court ordered interim maps for its 2012 elections.

On June 25, 2018, the Court ruled 5-4 that Texas' redistricting plan was legal with the exception of House District 90, which was racially gerrymandered. close