Louisiana v. Callais, 608 U.S. ___ (2026) — Slip Opinion

Decided April 29, 2026, 6–3. Majority opinion by Justice Alito, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. Dissent by Justice Kagan, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson. Holds that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act “imposes liability only when the circumstances give rise to a strong inference that intentional discrimination occurred” (slip op. 23) and that “the focus of §2 must be enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment’s prohibition on intentional racial discrimination” (slip op. 23–26). The Court found that Louisiana’s compliance with Section 2 did not justify the State’s use of race in drawing SB8 because the VRA, as reinterpreted, did not require an additional majority-minority district. Kagan dissent argues the majority “eviscerate[s]” Section 2 by reinstating the intent requirement Congress removed by statute in 1982.