Supreme Court of the United States
Roy Cooper v. David Harris
May 22, 2017137 S. Ct. 1455
Summary
The Court affirmed the District Court's judgment that North Carolina's Districts 1 and 12 were unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. It held race predominated in drawing both districts. For District 1, compliance with §2 of the VRA did not justify the use of race because the state lacked a strong basis in evidence. For District 12, the Court found race, not politics, predominated, and rejected the requirement for an alternative map where other evidence suffices. Justice Thomas concurred, and Justice Alito dissented in part, arguing an alternative map was necessary under Cromartie II.