Today the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether Louisiana's congressional districts should stay or go, and a key part of the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act hangs in the balance.
The high court heard this case last term. But instead of issuing a ruling, it told lawyers to present new arguments: Is any use of race in redistricting constitutional?
Loyola constitutional law professor Dane Ciolino says it sets the court up for a landmark ruling that could undo 40 years of case law based on the Voting Rights Act.
"If the court goes the direction it seems to be signaling it wants to go, that would be off limits and redistricting would have to be done on a colorblind basis," Ciolino said. "It would essentially gut section two of the Voting Rights Act, undo more than 40 years of case law under section two."
With primaries for the 2026 midterms coming early next year, Ciolino says the court will likely rule sooner rather than later.
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