WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 4, 2025) – A group of Louisiana historians has filed an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court urging reversal of a lower court ruling that struck down the state’s congressional map creating a second majority-Black district.
The filing in consolidated cases, Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, argues that current conditions demonstrate the continuing need for robust enforcement of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The brief, submitted by counsel from Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) on behalf of Dr. John Bardes and Dr. Heather O’Connell of Louisiana State University and Dr. R. Blakeslee Gilpin of Tulane University, highlights the extensive historical and present-day evidence of racial discrimination in Louisiana.
“Every patriotic American looks forward to the day when enforcement under the Voting Rights Act is no longer necessary,” the amicus states. “Yet aspiration cannot substitute for evidence. Until discriminatory practices by government institutions are truly relegated to the past, the Voting Rights Act remains an essential safeguard to prevent current harm.”
Read the full amicus here.
The document details how the state’s Black population has grown steadily, remains geographically concentrated, and continues to face inequities in education, housing, health, and political participation. The historians emphasize this persistent discrimination undermines claims that Louisiana has moved past the need for Voting Rights Act protections.
“These formal findings, court orders, data, and lived conditions all demonstrate that present-day discrimination in Louisiana is systemic and state-enabled,” the amicus states. “The recurrence of the same harms reflects institutional choices traceable to Jim Crow and reproduced through contemporary practices, ongoing and mutually reinforcing.”
They also point out that every federal court to consider the matter in recent years has found clear violations of Section 2 due to vote dilution in Louisiana’s congressional map. The historians argue the lower court’s rejection of the state’s remedial plan ignored both the weight of that record and the lived realities of Black communities across Louisiana.
“Louisiana’s Black voters deserve equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice,” said Chris Shenton, Senior Counsel for Voting Rights SCSJ. “The Voting Rights Act is designed to step in where the effects of societal discrimination prevent them from having that opportunity. The denial of that opportunity cannot be allowed to stand.”
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Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
