Five minute buzzer just sounded, no boxes yet.
One box today, folks. I think we are not finishing the term today.
It's time to go in, folks! Back soon!
Florida v. Georgia is a huge deal to the States involved, and a very small deal to the rest of the People. I can't imagine a bigger spread in any case in that regard. I'm thinking that's the one we get today.
Also, because today is a scheduled sitting, I'm guessing there will be a bunch of attorney admissions at the outset. That means we might be waiting longer than usual for the announcements.
We have the first opinion. It is the Texas racial gerrymandering case, Abbott v. Perez. It is by Justice Alito, it is 5-4.
Court holds that all but one of the legislative districts under review is lawful.
Very thick decision. Can't be another long one today, I don't think. Also -- I was wrong on admissions; last Monday was the last day.
Court upholds the district court's decision that HD90 is a racial gerrymander.
"Except with respect to one Texas House district," Alito writes, "we hold that the court below erred in effectively enjoining the use of the districting maps adopted by the Legislature in 2013."
Thomas has a brief concurrence, restating his view that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not apply to redistricting. He is joined by Gorscuch.
Sotomayor has main dissent, joined by RBG, Breyer, and Kagan.
Majority opinion is 41 pages long; Thomas's concurrence is 1 page; Sotomayor's dissent is 46 pages.
Strong words from the start from Sotomayor: "The Court today goes out of its way to permit the State of Texas to use maps that he three-judge District Court unanimously found were adopted for the purpose of preserving the racial discrimination that tainted its previous maps."
Okay, going back in to wait for next opinion. Could be from anyone but Gorsuch, Sotomayor, or Kagan.
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