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Miller v. Johnson

Impact



Miller v. Johnson was a serious examination of a state's ability to draw legislative boundaries that not only complied with the requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but also remained racially neutral in the creation of voting districts. The conclusion of the Supreme Court was that while race may be a significant factor in the reapportionment of voting districts, it cannot be the overwhelming factor, or the only factor, for that will ultimately violate the rights of voters that are guaranteed by the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.



Even as late as 1996, the Court heard cases about redistricting and political participation (Shaw v. Hunt). The U.S. political system is still uneven in providing equal voting power to all of its eligible voters. Miller v. Johnson has been an attempt by the Supreme Court to protect the rights of all while maintaining a race-neutral atmosphere.

Additional topics

Law Library - American Law and Legal InformationNotable Trials and Court Cases - 1995 to PresentMiller v. Johnson - Significance, A Case Of Racial Gerrymandering, Points Of Affirmation And Dissension, Impact, Further Readings