AP Government: Shaw v. Reno Court Case

Issues

-Drawing districts based on race violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. So the question was... -Did the North Carolina residents who objected to the majority-minority district raise a valid question under the Fourteenth Amendment?

Decision

-The court sided with Shaw. -The court was split in a 5-4 decision. (leaned republican). -Sandra Day O-Connor gave the opinion of the court. -She said that the redistricting based on race alone is indeed a violation of the 14th amendment and the Voting Rights Act. -Overturned previous court's decision that redistricting can be based on race. -Finally O-Connor said that redistricting can take race into consideration, but it cannot be the only reason.

Facts

-The ruling was impactful on redistricting and racial gerrymandering. -North Carolina: redistricting -North Carolina drew one district around the majority minority African American population. -However, the DOA was upset and told them to draw more majority minority districts. -North Carolina came back with two more. -However, the one that North Carolina had added was 160 miles long and was over extended to add areas of African American communities. -A group of white voters led by Ruth Shaw, sued.

Arguments

Shaw: -Redistricting cannot be based on race alone. -Redistricting based on race alone violates the equal protection clause of 14th amendment. Reno (North Carolina): -Because of precedent case (Jewish Organization v. Carey) redistricting on race was legal. -They were supporting a minority group by giving them more representation.

Constitutional provisions and precedent cases

United Jewish Organization of Williamsburgh v. Carey was a precedent. -New York wanted to redraw a district that would split the Jewish community in half, making them have less voting power. The court sided with Carey saying the newly drawn district was valid. They came to this conclusion because there was nothing in the 14th or 15th amendment that said they could not redraw districts on race.