Easley v. Cromartie
Encyclopedia
Easley v. Cromartie, 532 US 234 (2001) was a U.S. Supreme Court
case. The court's ruling on April 18, 2001 stated that redistricting for political reasons did not violate Federal Civil Rights
Law banning race-based gerrymandering
. (Case No. 99-1864).
The High Court held in the case that as Southern
blacks
tend to vote for the Democratic Party, North Carolina
's 12th Congressional District was drawn based upon voting behavior, instead of upon racial characteristics. The odd-shaped district was allowed, the Court ruled, to stand. Critics of this ruling found this to be a case of judicial nitpicking and that the Court had in essence allowed the previously-banned practice of concentrating a racial group into a single district.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case. The court's ruling on April 18, 2001 stated that redistricting for political reasons did not violate Federal Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
Law banning race-based gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
. (Case No. 99-1864).
The High Court held in the case that as Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
blacks
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
tend to vote for the Democratic Party, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
's 12th Congressional District was drawn based upon voting behavior, instead of upon racial characteristics. The odd-shaped district was allowed, the Court ruled, to stand. Critics of this ruling found this to be a case of judicial nitpicking and that the Court had in essence allowed the previously-banned practice of concentrating a racial group into a single district.