WASHINGTON — In most Voting Rights Acts cases, minority voters are suing their state leaders, not on their side. But for awhile, a cadre of Black voters and Louisiana officials were both defending the state's current Congressional map in the Callais case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

But they are unusual bedfellows no more.

State Attorney General Liz Murrill switched sides Aug. 27 and argues the Voting Rights Act no longer justifies two Black congressional districts. The case is set for a hearing on Oct. 15.

Originally, justices wanted to hear arguments in Louisiana v. Callais on how to balance the competing requirements of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which allows minority-majority election districts, and the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, which forbids decisio

See Full Page