washington u.s. supreme court monday rule republicans north carolina unlawfully take race consideration draw congressional district boundaries concentrate black voters improper bid diminish statewide political clout justices uphold low court february 2016 rule throw two majority-black u.s. house representatives district republican lawmakers improperly use race factor redrawing legislative map 2010 census decision come one number lawsuits accuse republicans take step state level disenfranchise black minority voters tend back democratic candidates justices find manner north carolina vote district boundaries sketch violate u.s. constitution guarantee equal protection law rule may offer roadmap challenge similarly draw district nationwide justices unanimously uphold low court one district split 5-3 three conservatives dissent north carolina republican legislature try rig congressional elections draw unconstitutional district discriminate african-americans wrong say north carolina governor roy cooper democrat take office january critics accuse republicans cram black voters naacp civil right group call apartheid vote district diminish vote power make surround district white likely support republicans district hold democrats north carolina 13 representatives u.s. house 10 republican know legislature perform task rule change constantly case case often fact robin hay chairman state republican party say redistricting democrats accuse republicans take number action state level also include laws impose new requirements voters present certain type government-issued identification bid suppress vote minorities poor others generally favor democratic candidates republicans say laws need prevent voter fraud race consider redrawing boundaries vote district certain instance state seek comply federal vote right act law protect minority voters enact address history racial discrimination vote especially southern state eric holder u.s. attorney general president barack obama head national democratic redistricting committee group back democrats redistricting fight welcome decision today rule send stark message legislatures governors around country racial gerrymander illegal strike court law holder say refer alter political boundaries give party unfair advantage rule rebuke north carolina republicans district question already re-drawn new district already challenge court supreme court never say legislative district map base plainly partisan aim like maximize one party election chance north carolina republicans say one two district call 12th congressional district draw purely partisan ground benefit republicans expense democrats draw comply demand vote right act split among justices 12th district conservative justice samuel alito write dissent court follow early precedent previous version district challenge precedent court treat like disposable household item say paper plate napkin use toss trash alito write write court majority liberal justice elena kagan counter evidence trial adequately support conclusion race politics account district reconfiguration conservative clarence thomas court black justice join kagan rule justice neil gorsuch yet join court hear arguments case december participate justices last week rebuff republican bid revive strict north carolina voter-identification law low court find deliberately discriminate black voters supreme court 2013 strike key part vote right act rule drive conservative justices since fault republican redistricting efforts racial reason 2015 supreme court rule alabama republican-backed legislature improperly cram black voters certain district justices march order low court reassess whether virginia republican-led legislature unlawfully try dilute power black voters justices throw low court decision uphold 12 state legislature district supreme court toss republican-drawn north carolina vote district