and Alito wrote the opinion!
Supreme Court rules for GOP in South Carolina redistricting case
Civil rights groups argued that Republican Rep. Nancy Mace’s district was redrawn by unlawfully removing thousands of Black voters.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Republicans in South Carolina did not unlawfully consider race when they drew a congressional district in a way that removed thousands of Black voters.
The court, divided 6-3 on ideological lines with conservatives in the majority, said civil rights group had not done enough to show that legislators were focused on race in drawing the Charleston-area district currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican.
In doing so, the court sided with Republican state officials who said their sole goal was to increase the Republican tilt in the district.
As a result of the ruling, Mace's district will not have to be re-drawn, delivering a blow to Democrats who would have hoped to secure a more favorable map. Litigation on a separate claim brought by plaintiffs against the map could continue.
Writing for the majority, conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote that "no direct evidence" supports the lower court's finding that race was a key consideration when the map was drawn.
"The circumstantial evidence falls far short of showing that race, not partisan preferences, drove the districting process," he added.
While the Supreme Court was considering the case, much more slowly than expected, the lower court that had invalidated the map said it could be used for this year's election.
In dissent, liberal Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority had "stacked the deck" against the challengers.
"What a message to send to state legislators and mapmakers about racial gerrymandering," she added.
more:
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-gop-south-carolina-redistricting-case-rcna127946
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