Shaw v. Hunt - Impact

The cases of Shaw v. Reno and Shaw v. Hunt explore areas central to the constitutional issues of civil rights, voting rights, racial discrimination, and voter representation. While race can be a consideration when drawing voter districts, racial classifications may not be the dominant factor, unless a state can prove other compelling reasons that will withstand strict scrutiny. It is certain that these cases will be noted in many future proceedings, as civil rights issues continue to be debated and contested in the courts.