Opening Arguments Callais Is Worse Than You Think. No, Even More Worse. Nope, STILL WORSE THAN THAT.
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May 11, 2026 They unpack a Supreme Court ruling that dramatically undercuts voting rights and civil-rights enforcement. They trace how new legal tests could block race-conscious remedies and leave many anti-discrimination measures vulnerable. They explore the ruling’s ripple effects on redistricting, DEI efforts, and broader civil-rights protections.
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Section Two Uses Totality Of Circumstances Not Quotas
- Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act targets vote denial by examining the 'totality of the circumstances' and does not promise proportional representation.
- Janessa explains the 1982 amendment which allows disparate‑impact style claims by assessing political processes and election opportunities for protected classes.
Milligan Proved Racial Gerrymandering Cases Could Still Win
- Allen v. Milligan (2023) showed racial gerrymandering cases could still win despite Supreme Court hostility, but that precedent proved fragile.
- Janessa notes Milligan required Alabama to draw another Black district, signaling that victory was possible before Louisiana v. Callais reversed course.
Case Escalated When Supreme Court Asked About 14th And 15th
- Louisiana drew a map that a trial court found racially gerrymandered and ordered a second Black district; the state then faced a novel Supreme Court reargument on 14th/15th interaction.
- Janessa recounts how the Supreme Court asked reargument briefs about constitutional interplay, escalating the case from a routine map dispute to a potential attack on the Voting Rights Act.