Voting Rights Act challenged by Supreme Court conservatives

Thursday, February 28, 2013  

The U.S. Supreme Court heard Shelby County v. Holder, a Voting Rights Act case, on Wednesday, with conservative justices questioning a key provision of the law.

Section 5 requires certain states and local governments to submit voting changes to the Department of Justice to ensure the rights of American Indian, Alaska Native and other minority groups are protected. At least four justices appeared skeptical of the provision, which could be declared unconstitutional.

The Navajo Nation, the Alaska Federation of Natives, several Alaska tribes and individual Indians signed onto briefs for the case. Tribal issues weren't brought up during the hearing.

Get the Story:
Supreme Court conservatives express skepticism over voting law provision (The Washington Post 2/28)
Voting Rights Law Draws Skepticism From Justices (The New York Times 2/28)
Outcome of voting rights case before Supreme Court will be felt in Alaska (The Anchorage Daily News 2/28)
Days numbered for key part of voting rights law? Conservative justices skeptical of need (AP 2/27)

Relevant Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript | Navajo Nation Brief | Alaska Federation of Natives Brief

Tribes submit briefs to Supreme Court for voting rights case (2/26)