Supreme Court Upholds Ruling That North Carolina’s US House District Maps Were Drawn With Racial Bias

The Raleigh News & Observer reports:

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that North Carolina lawmakers relied too heavily on race when drawing congressional districts in 2011, affirming a lower-court ruling that forced legislators to create new maps last year.

The racial gerrymanders that left Republicans representing 10 of 13 North Carolina congressional districts were meant to dilute the power of black voters in the political process and muffle their voice, according to the ruling.

The 5-3 ruling, written by Justice Elena Kagan, is among a series by the justices against the excessive use of race in redistricting that state lawmakers across the country take up every 10 years after the release of new Census data. Justice Samuel Alito dissented in part from the ruling, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Gorsuch recused himself from the case.