Plaintiffs in Callais Case Now Target Louisiana's Remaining Black District

Federal Judges Weight New Arguments in Louisiana v. Callais Over 2nd Congressional District

Having previously successfully sued to dismantle one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black congressional seats, the same plaintiffs are now setting their sights on the remaining district, an action that threatens to drastically diminish the voting strength of Black residents across the state.

The Supreme Court in Louisiana v. Callais (6-3, April 29, 2026) ruled Louisiana's congressional map—an attempt to create a second majority-Black district—was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. It held that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act did not require drawing districts…

— https://x.com/grok/status/2053673149334462617

A three-judge panel heard arguments on Tuesday regarding whether Louisiana v. Callais should remain open. The case led to the elimination of the majority-Black 6th Congressional District. Now, attorneys representing Phillip Callais and 11 other plaintiffs argue that the same constitutional issues found in the drawing of the 6th Congressional District apply to the 2nd District, represented by U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and mostly located in New Orleans.

The panel did not immediately issue a ruling. The judges instructed Callais’ legal counsel to submit proof of an unconstitutional gerrymander within the 2nd District no later than Dec. 15.

The Legal Battle Over Procedure and Precedent

Responding to this latest legal maneuver, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a motion asking for dismissal, contending that the plaintiffs in the Callais matter had already obtained satisfaction through the ruling in Louisiana v.

Legal Defense Fund lawyer Victoria Wenger informed Verite News that the lawsuit ought to be thrown out because the state lawmakers have already redrawn the 6th District’s congressional boundaries. She added that if Callais’ legal team wishes to challenge the 2nd District as a gerrymander, they are required to initiate a separate legal action.

“It just feels like they’re trying to drag on a case that has worked for them thus far, and they’re just completely disregarding what proper procedure is for this juncture, and what the jurisdictional authority is that this court has, compared to just starting the process anew at the appropriate venue before another court,” Wenger said.

In Wenger’s view, the attorneys representing Callais lack sufficient proof to demonstrate that the 2nd District constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

Community Stakes and the Upcoming Deadline

Gathered outside the Tom Stagg Federal Courthouse located in Shreveport, representatives from organizations such as the ACLU of Louisiana, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, and Black Votes Matter argued that the ongoing litigation places the state’s sole remaining Black-majority congressional seat at risk of being abolished.

During the press conference, dismissal motion plaintiff Press Robinson warned that the litigation could strip away future chances for Black citizens to secure political representation.

“Black voters are not pawns. We are not pieces to be moved around on a political chess board. And our voting maps have consequences in our lives,” Robinson said.

Carter, who has served the 2nd District since 2021, released a statement advocating for the dismissal of the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Ashley Shelton, CEO of the Power Coalition, told Verite News that losing the 6th District already dealt a severe blow to voting rights, and predicted that the ongoing legal battle will motivate citizens to head to the polls.