On this special episode of Native Land Pod, host Angela Rye is joined by attorney for the Legal Defense Fund, Janai Nelson. Ms. Nelson joins us just after leaving the Supreme Court, where she argued a case which could have radical implications for the Voting Rights Act and redistricting across the country: Louisiana v. Callais. 

In 2024, Louisiana was found to be in violation of the VRA and was forced to redraw their congressional map. The original map created only one majority Black district out of six total districts, in a state where roughly 1/3rd of the population is Black. Ms. Nelson and the Legal Defense Fund argued in favor of the new map, which created two majority Black districts, in the Supreme Court back in March of 2025. 

The highest court has called them back to hear arguments AGAIN, a move rarely taken, except for with the most consequential of cases (Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board, etc.). If Louisiana’s original map is allowed to stand, with only one majority Black district, it would effectively gut the Voting Rights Act, and lead to a reduction in representation for Black people across the country. 

Read more: https://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/louisiana-v-callais-faq/

https://www.justice.gov/crt/section-2-voting-rights-act

Watch Oral Arguments: https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/supreme-court-hears-case-on-racial-gerrymandering-voting-rights/664542

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Welcome home y’all! 

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