Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)
Merit Brief
Once the Supreme Court has granted certiorari and agreed to review a case 鈥渙n the merits,鈥 each party files merits briefs. The merits briefs argue to the Court why each party should win the case. The Petitioner files the opening brief; the Respondent files a response; and the Petitioner files a Reply Brief.
What's at Stake
Whether the congressional map Louisiana adopted to cure a Voting Rights Act violation in Robinson v. Ardoin is itself unlawful as a gerrymander.
Summary
After the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision finding that plaintiffs in Robinson v. Ardoin were likely to succeed in proving that Louisiana鈥檚 congressional map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the Louisiana legislature enacted a new congressional map in January 2023 containing two districts with majorities of Black Voting Age Population.
On January 31, 2024, a group of white Louisianians challenged this new map as a racial gerrymander under the Fourteenth amendment. The Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit assigned a three-judge panel to hear the case.
The Robinson plaintiffs, represented by the 红杏视频, 红杏视频 of Louisiana, Legal Defense Fund, and Paul Weiss, sought to intervene to defend the map. While the motion was pending, the panel set the case for expedited trial in April 2024. The panel initially denied the motion to intervene except as to any remedial phase should the plaintiffs prevail, but on reconsideration, allowed the Robinson and Galmon plaintiffs to intervene in the liability phase in part, limiting involvement to presenting evidence as to whether race predominated in drawing the 2024 congressional map, and whether, if so, the map meets strict scrutiny. A trial on the merits was held in April 2024. On April 30, 2024, a divided panel of three federal judges overturned Louisiana's congressional map with two majority Black districts. The court held that the case's "non-African American voters" successfully proved that legislators improperly prioritized race when enacting the map during a special legislative session in January 2024. On May 8, 2024, Plaintiffs moved for a stay at the U.S. Supreme Court in order to block the district court's ruling and ensure that Louisiana voters had a map with two majority-Black congressional districts in 2024 elections.
On May 15, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay in Robinson v. Callais, which paused enforcement of the district court's decision to strike down Louisiana's map as a racial gerrymander. The Court then heard argument on the case in late March 2025. In June 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order to reargue the case during the Court's following term.
Legal Documents
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10/03/2025
Supplemental Reply Brief for Robinson Appellants -
10/03/2025
Supplemental Reply Brief for Louisiana Appellant -
09/03/2025
Amicus Briefs -
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09/03/2025
Brief of Amicus Curiae, the Brennan Center for Justice At New York University School of Law in Support of Press Robinson, et al., Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amicus Curiae Southern Poverty Law Center in Support of the Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Amici Curiae Brief of Representatives, Troy Carter, Yvette Clarke, and Members of Congressional Black Caucus of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in Support of Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief For Professor W. Kerrel Murray as Amicus Curiae Supporting Neither Party -
09/03/2025
Brief For Professor Travis Crum as Amicus Curiae in Support of the Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amicus Curiae Professor Nicholas O. Stephanopoulos in Support of Neither Party -
09/03/2025
Brief For the Navajo Nation as Amicus Curiae Supporting Neither Party -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amici Curiae Milligan Plaintiffs in Support of the Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief For Louisiana Historians as Amici Curiae Supporting Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amici Curiae Lawyers鈥 Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, League of Women Voters , National Women鈥檚 Law Center, National Urban League, and Leadership Conference On Civil and Human Rights in Support of Robinson Appellant -
09/03/2025
Brief of Louisiana Mathematics and Computer-Science Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of Neither Party -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amicus Curiae Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus in Support of Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief For Amici Curiae Independent State Redistricting Commissioners in Support of Neither Party -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amicus Curiae Governor Jeff Landry in Support of Appellant Louisiana -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amici Curiae Former Republican Members of Congress in Support of the Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of Former Republican Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christine Todd Whitman, Marc Racicot, and William F. Weld as Amici Curiae in Support of Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of Amici Curiae Ellen D. Katz and the Voting Rights initiative in Support of Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief For Edward Galmon, Sr., Cierra Hart, Norris Henderson, Tramelle Howard, and Ross Williams as Amici Curiae in Support of Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of the District of Columbia, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants -
09/03/2025
Supplemental Brief of Constitutional Accountability Center as Amicus Curiae in Support of Robinson Appellant -
09/03/2025
Brief of Campaign Legal Center as Amicus Curiae in Support of Robinson Appellants -
09/03/2025
Brief of Black Voters Matter Capacity Building institute, inc., and Pastor Steven Harris as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amicus Curiae, the Brennan Center for Justice At New York University School of Law in Support of Press Robinson, et al., AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amicus Curiae Southern Poverty Law Center in Support of the Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsAmici Curiae Brief of Representatives, Troy Carter, Yvette Clarke, and Members of Congressional Black Caucus of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in Support of AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief For Professor W. Kerrel Murray as Amicus Curiae Supporting Neither PartyDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief For Professor Travis Crum as Amicus Curiae in Support of the Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amicus Curiae Professor Nicholas O. Stephanopoulos in Support of Neither PartyDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief For the Navajo Nation as Amicus Curiae Supporting Neither PartyDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amici Curiae Milligan Plaintiffs in Support of the Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief For Louisiana Historians as Amici Curiae Supporting Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amici Curiae Lawyers鈥 Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, League of Women Voters , National Women鈥檚 Law Center, National Urban League, and Leadership Conference On Civil and Human Rights in Support of Robinson AppellantDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Louisiana Mathematics and Computer-Science Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of Neither PartyDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amicus Curiae Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus in Support of AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief For Amici Curiae Independent State Redistricting Commissioners in Support of Neither PartyDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amicus Curiae Governor Jeff Landry in Support of Appellant LouisianaDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amici Curiae Former Republican Members of Congress in Support of the Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Former Republican Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christine Todd Whitman, Marc Racicot, and William F. Weld as Amici Curiae in Support of Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Amici Curiae Ellen D. Katz and the Voting Rights initiative in Support of Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief For Edward Galmon, Sr., Cierra Hart, Norris Henderson, Tramelle Howard, and Ross Williams as Amici Curiae in Support of Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of the District of Columbia, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin as Amici Curiae in Support of AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsSupplemental Brief of Constitutional Accountability Center as Amicus Curiae in Support of Robinson AppellantDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Campaign Legal Center as Amicus Curiae in Support of Robinson AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Louisiana v. Callais (Callais v. Landry)Legal DocumentsBrief of Black Voters Matter Capacity Building institute, inc., and Pastor Steven Harris as Amici Curiae in Support of AppellantsDate Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
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09/03/2025
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08/27/2025
Supplemental Brief for Robinson Appellants -
08/27/2025
Supplemental Brief for the State of Louisiana -
08/01/2025
Court Order on Rebriefing -
06/27/2025
Court Order on Reargument -
03/24/2025
Oral Argument Transcript -
02/20/2025
Reply Brief of Robinson Appellants -
02/20/2025
Reply Brief of Louisiana Appellants -
01/28/2025
Brief for Amici Curiae Georgia [Republican Legislative Leadership] -
01/28/2025
Brief for NRCC as Amicus Curiae Supporting Appellees -
01/28/2025
Brief of Alabama and 13 Other States as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellees -
01/28/2025
Amici Curiae Brief of Judicial Watch, Inc. and Allied Educational Foundation in Support of Appellees -
01/27/2025
Brief for the Project on Fair Representation as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellees -
01/24/2025
Letter from the United States Department of Justice -
01/21/2025
Brief for Appellees -
01/16/2025
Appellants' Unopposed Joint Motion for Divided Argument -
01/16/2025
Motion of the United States for Leave to Participate in Oral Argument as Amicus Curiae and for Enlargement of Argument -
12/26/2024
Brief of Representatives Troy Carter, Terri Sewell, Bennie Thompson, and Valerie Foushee as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants -
12/26/2024
Brief of Amicus Curiae Race and Democracy Scholars in Support of Neither Party -
12/26/2024
Brief of the District of Columbia and [19 States with Democrat Attorneys General] as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants -
12/26/2024
Brief for Louisiana Historians as Amici Curiae Supporting Appellants -
12/26/2024
Brief on Behalf of Amici Curiae National Congress of American Indians in Support of Appellants Press Robinson, et al. -
12/26/2024
Brief of MHA Nation, Lisa Finley-Deville, and Cesar Alvarez as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants -
12/26/2024
Brief of MHA Nation, Lisa Finley-Deville, and Cesar Alvarez as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants -
12/26/2024
Brief of Amici Curiae [Various Organizations] in Support of Robinson Appellants -
12/26/2024
Brief of Faith Leaders in Congressional District 6 as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants -
12/24/2024
Brief of Amicus Curiae Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus in Support of Appellants -
12/23/2024
Brief for Amici Curiae Independent State Redistricting Commissioners in Support of Neither Party -
12/23/2024
Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae in Support of Neither Party -
12/20/2024
Brief of Constitutional Accountability Center as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellants -
12/19/2024
Brief for Louisiana Appellants -
12/19/2024
Brief for Robinson Plaintiffs Appellants -
09/16/2024
Appellants' Brief Opposing Motion to Affirm -
09/03/2024
Plaintiffs' Motion to Dismiss or Affirm -
07/30/2024
Jurisdictional Statement -
05/15/2024
Order Granting Application for Stay -
05/14/2024
Reply in Support of Application of a Stay -
05/14/2024
Reply in Support of Emergency Application for Stay Pending Appeal of State of Louisiana -
05/13/2024
Response to Emergency Applications for a Stay Pending Appeal and for Stay of Injunction -
05/08/2024
Emergency Application for Stay of District Court's Injunction
Date Filed: 10/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 10/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 09/03/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 08/27/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 08/27/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 08/01/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 06/27/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 03/24/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 02/20/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 02/20/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/28/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/28/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/28/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/28/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/27/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/24/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/21/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/16/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 01/16/2025
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/26/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/24/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/23/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/23/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/20/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/19/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 12/19/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 09/16/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 09/03/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 07/30/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 05/15/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 05/14/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 05/14/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 05/13/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Date Filed: 05/08/2024
Court: U.S. Supreme Court
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05/02/2024
Plaintiffs' Opposition to Robinson Intervenors' Motion to Stay Pending Appeal -
05/01/2024
Robinson Intervenors' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Stay Pending Appeal -
04/30/2024
Order Enjoining Louisiana Congressional Map -
04/17/2024
Robinson Plaintiff Intervenors' Post-Trial Brief -
04/17/2024
State of Louisiana's Proposed Findings of Fact -
04/17/2024
State of Louisiana's Post-Trial Brief -
04/17/2024
Defendant Nancy Landry's Post-Trial Brief -
04/17/2024
Plaintiffs' Proposed Findings of Fact -
04/17/2024
Robinson Plaintiff Intervenors' Proposed Findings of Fact -
04/17/2024
Plaintiffs' Post-Trial Brief -
03/15/2024
Order Granting Robinson Plaintiffs Leave to Appear at Trial -
02/27/2024
Robinson Plaintiffs Amicus Brief Opposing Preliminary Injunction -
02/27/2024
Response to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction by Secretary of State -
02/26/2024
Order Granting Robinson Movants' Motion to Intervene as to Remedial Stage -
02/23/2024
Robinson Movants' Reply in Support of Motion to Intervene -
02/20/2024
State of Louisiana's Motion to Intervene -
02/14/2024
Plaintiffs' Response to Motion to Intervene and Motion to Transfer -
02/07/2024
Robinson Plaintiffs' Motion to Intervene -
02/07/2024
Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
01/31/2024
Complaint
Date Filed: 05/02/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 05/01/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/30/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 04/17/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 03/15/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/27/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/27/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/26/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/23/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/20/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/14/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/07/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 02/07/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
Date Filed: 01/31/2024
Court: District Court (W.D. La.)
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