Bartlett v. Strickland | |
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Argued October 14, 2008 Decided March 9, 2009 |
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Full case name | Gary Bartlett, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, et al., Petitioners v. Dwight Strickland, et al. |
Citations | 556 U.S. 1 (more)
128 S.Ct. 1648
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Prior history | Certiorari to the Supreme Court of North Carolina |
Holding | |
A minority group must constitute a numerical majority of the voting-age population in an area before section 2 of the Voting Rights Act requires the creation of a legislative district to prevent dilution of that group’s votes. | |
Court membership | |
Case opinions | |
Plurality | Kennedy, joined by Roberts, Alito |
Concurrence | Thomas, joined by Scalia |
Dissent | Souter, joined by Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer |
Dissent | Ginsburg |
Dissent | Breyer |
Laws applied | |
Voting Rights Act § 2 |
Bartlett v. Strickland, 556 U.S. 1 (2009), is a United States Supreme Court case in which a plurality of the Court held that a minority group must constitute a numerical majority of the voting-age population in an area before section 2 of the Voting Rights Act requires the creation of a legislative district to prevent dilution of that group's votes.
The decision struck down a North Carolina redistricting plan that attempted to preserve minority voting power in a 39% black North Carolina House of Representatives district.
Justice Kennedy delivered the decision and was joined by Justices Alito and Roberts. Justice Thomas filed a concurring opinion that was joined by Justice Scalia. Justice Souter filed a dissenting opinion that was joined by Justices Stevens, Ginsburg, and Breyer. Justices Ginsburg and Breyer also filed separate dissenting opinions.