So, we got some decisions from The Supreme Court.
You’ll never convince me that they weren’t influenced by the increased scrutinization of the Court.

BREAKING: In a surprise ruling, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Black voters in a redistricting case and says Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The justices ordered the creation of a new, mostly Black congressional district in Alabama. https://t.co/0LLFexU9GL

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 8, 2023

But, good decisions are good decisions. They shouldn’t get credit for doing what was right.

The ramifications are not just for Alabama. There were also cases in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina.
If all are redrawn to decent representation for the Black populations of these states.
That’s the House, once New York and Wisconsin get redrawn.

As Steve Vladeck pointed out:

“If you assume that additional majority-minority districts in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, & 1–2 other states would’ve been safe Democratic seats, then today’s #SCOTUS ruling strongly suggests that the Court’s 2022 shadow docket stays wrongly gave Republicans control of the House.”

UH HUH
UH HUH

I know many of you won't agree, but if you care about the future of U.S. democracy, this was the most important story of the day. https://t.co/618gRdxh3P

— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) June 9, 2023

This image of @RossDeuel arguing before Justice Jackson reflects the sacrifice of generations of Black people who fought to become full citizens, with representation at the highest levels of our democracy. Taking a minute to honor those that came before as we celebrate /1 pic.twitter.com/DtS6RO0cSU

— Tona Boyd (@TonaBoydEsq) June 8, 2023

Steven Mazie
@stevenmazie

A word on this HUGE SURPRISE 5-4 (not 6-3) decision: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson may have been the difference. She came to the oral argument with a v forceful defense of the Reconstruction Amendments as anything but race-blind & critiqued abandoning decades of VRA precedent.

I remember that oral argument. She filleted them.

For context:
3 out of 4 of the most populous cities in Alabama are MAJORITY BLACK: Birmingham, Mobile & Montgomery

They tried to make that stretch that includes Selma be sufficient for 1.3M Black People here

That math has NEVER MATHED

May OUR Victory spread across the SOUTH 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Mb4yOXDZrJ

— ⚜️💅🏽 FAAFO Jacqueline Smith 💅🏽⚜️ (@MzSailiante) June 8, 2023

it may not get big national headlines but this decision is huge and a real stunner https://t.co/H5NK8FGNp6 via @TPM

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 8, 2023

1/ Fair Districts GA applauds US Supreme Court for Upholding Voting Rights Act

Today the US Supreme Court upheld a key provision of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.  It also reaffirmed key precedents from past decisions…

— Fair Districts GA (@FairDistrictsGA) June 8, 2023

4/ Given that the Georgia cases rest on similar principles to those decided in Alabama, we are hopeful that the court will fairly apply the law to the facts and order new maps which better reflect the minority communities in Georgia.

— Fair Districts GA (@FairDistrictsGA) June 8, 2023

.@RedistrictFdn and Alabama voters showed tenacity in their fight for fair maps, and now Alabama must draw a new, fairer map that is representative of its people.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 8, 2023

During the Supreme Court debate on Alabama's redistricting, Justice Jackson points out that the 14th Amendment wasn't meant to be race-neutral. It aimed to lay the constitutional groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

— marc a (@MGsquared) June 8, 2023

It’s a shame that the general public is shocked that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of voting rights for Black people.

— Booker G. Washington (@TendentiousG) June 8, 2023

Today’s SCOTUS ruling = good news for Dems in general, but *great* news for the Biden wing of the party

Southern African-Americans are moderate, act as a counterweight to white progressives, and keep us electable. And they’re about to get alot bigger in number

— Brent Peabody 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@brent_peabody) June 8, 2023

Today's must read.https://t.co/618gRdxh3P

— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) June 8, 2023

Here's the Louisiana congressional map that is being challenged on similar grounds. pic.twitter.com/kFSs5f310G

— Taniel (@Taniel) June 8, 2023

Here's the Alabama congressional map that was struck down today.

It packs African American residents from Birmingham to Montgomery to Tuscaloosa to Selma into one single district (=everything that's blue on this map). pic.twitter.com/AJ8WDuRPnU

— Taniel (@Taniel) June 8, 2023

This entire thread😠😠

Clarence Thomas wrote damn near 50 pages of dissent to black people being able to vote. No I’m not exaggerating.

— Domo (@DapperDomo) June 8, 2023