Justice Jackson Erupts in Tense Exchange During High-Stakes SCOTUS Hearing

A tense Supreme Court session on Wednesday saw Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson repeatedly challenge Louisiana’s Solicitor General during arguments in Louisiana v. Callais, a pivotal Voting Rights Act (VRA) case.

The decision could reshape how states draw districts and influence the 2026 midterm elections.

The case questions the constitutionality of race-based majority-minority districts under Section 2 of the 1965 VRA.

Louisiana’s congressional map includes six districts, and the lawsuit targets the creation of a second majority-black district, initially mandated by a federal court.

Plaintiffs, white voters who filed suit in 2024, argue the district’s formation improperly emphasized race, according to Trending Politics.

During the hearing, Jackson pressed Benjamin Aguiñaga, Louisiana’s Solicitor General, over whether Section 2 constitutes a “compelling state interest” for drawing districts along racial lines.

She frequently interrupted Aguiñaga as he tried to explain the legal framework, insisting that identifying a voting disparity differs from creating additional districts as a remedy.

Her approach was considered forceful and persistent throughout the session.

Jackson’s courtroom style continues a pattern that has drawn scrutiny.