Supreme Court of the United States
Branch v. Smith
March 31, 2003538 U.S. 254
Summary
The Supreme Court affirmed the District Court's injunction against a Mississippi state court redistricting plan due to lack of preclearance under the Voting Rights Act. It further held that federal courts may fashion single-member district plans under 2 U.S.C. § 2c when the state legislature fails to redistrict, rather than ordering at-large elections under § 2a(c). Justice O'Connor dissented in part, arguing § 2a(c) requires at-large elections until state legislative redistricting occurs.