WASHINGTON, June 8, 2023 — The American Bar Association applauds the Supreme Court’s decision that agrees with the association’s amicus brief ruling in favor of upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the case of Allen v Milligan.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was designed to prevent voting practices that discriminate based on race. It is a key means of ensuring that all Americans have an equal opportunity to exercise the fundamental right to vote. The ABA argued that Alabama’s proposed redistricting framework in this case would threaten to eviscerate Section 2 and undermine equality in voting nationwide, causing lasting harm to minority voting rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Court agreed with the ABA’s arguments and the district court’s decision that Alabama’s redistricting map likely violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The ABA has a special responsibility for ensuring protection of constitutional rights, fostering the rule of law and promoting full and equal access to our nation’s electoral processes. We are pleased that the Court agreed with our position in this case.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.