The nation’s top court just handed Black voters another big win. The Supreme Court on Monday, June 26 lifted its hold on a Louisiana case that could force the state to redraw congressional districts to boost Black voting power.

The order follows the court's rejection earlier in June of a congressional redistricting map in Alabama and unfreezes the Louisiana case, which had been on hold pending the decision in Alabama.

In both states, Black voters are a majority in just one congressional district. Lower courts had ruled that the maps raised concerns that Black voting power had been diluted, in violation of the landmark federal Voting Rights Act.

About a third of Louisiana's residents are Black. More than one in four Alabamians are Black.

Personally, I am pleased. 

I hope this victory isn't merely moral or symbolic but that it results in a tangible gain for the Black voters in those states.😎

I do not make up stuff or author falsehoods. This is a serious and tangible victory.

“The Elections Clause does not insulate state legislatures from the ordinary exercise of state judicial review.”
 

With those words, Chief Justice John Roberts put an end to the right-wing legal fantasy that state legislatures are free to enact laws governing federal elections without paying attention to their state constitutions and review by their state courts.

Writing for a six-justice majority, the Chief Justice firmly rejected the so-called Independent State Legislature theory. Anyone who cares about free and fair elections should rejoice. Of course, if you don’t give a hoot, then ignore it.

The case, Moore v. Harper, involved a Republican gerrymandering challenge to North Carolina’s congressional map. Citing the North Carolina Constitution in early 2022, the state Supreme Court struck down the GOP-sponsored map. Angry Republican state lawmakers demanded a review by the U.S Supreme Court.

It's a good thing the GOP lost. Not only did that silly independent state legislature theory get demolished handily, it emerged from this Supreme Court case discredited. Had the GOP won, they could have overturned any federal election that they wanted.

There are still 28 court cases that are challenging congressional maps or state voting laws. Seven involve voting district maps while 21 concern voting laws or procedures. Thanks to this Moore v. Harper decision, those cases can go on unimpeded.

We’ve got a chance, folks.

We just gotta get our butts to the polls. 

 

You lost out on affirmative action college admissions a few days later.  With Uncle Tom

Clarence Thomas voting against affirmative action for Blacks.  The other 'colored'  justice

Jackson voted for student loans to be forgiven.   A trillion dollar giveaway,  to deplete

social security funds for the elderly, such as I. 

I didn't lose out on anything. Affirmative Action did not help me get into college. And it did not help me graduate Magna Cum Laude. 

And read up on the literary character of Uncle Tom. He actually was real and respectful. 

Uncle Tom (Josiah Henson) was a real and honorable person