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APRIL 19, 2001

By a 5-4 vote split along conservative-liberal lines, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld as Constutitional a predominantly African-American voting district in North Carolina.

The Court had previously considered the district in 1993 and found it unconstitutional because it was drawn using race as a predominant factor. The Court considered the issue in 1997, again ruling it was redrawn to give it a majority African-American population.

In 1999, the Court looked at the district but sent it back to a lower court for consideration on particular facts. That court ruled the district unconstitutional.

Yesterday, the Court reversed the ruling and said it was based on "clearly erroneous" findings. It said the district was Constitutional because political, not racial, factors were used in defining its borders.

Get the Case:
Hunt v. Cromartie No 99-1864 (US Sup Ct April 18, 2001)

Get the Story:
Heavily Black N.C. District Is Upheld (The Washington Post 4/19)

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Native voting case overturned (10/30)