10 Years Since Shelby County

Campaign Legal Center's virtual event "10 Years Since Shelby County: How Democracy Advocates Can Fight Back" was held on June 28, 2023 and featured a panelist discussion on the impact of the landmark Shelby County decision and the creative solutions at hand that can make our democracy more inclusive and accountable.

The Supreme Court has made a series of anti-democratic decisions in the last decade, including Shelby County v. Holder, which eviscerated Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) by gutting the incredibly important “preclearance” process. While the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Allen v. Milligan, which upheld the validity of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—a vital tool designed to make democracy more equitable and accessible for voters of color—is heartening, there is a long way to go to achieve the promise of a fully equal, inclusive and accessible democracy.  

During the event, our panelists discussed the lasting impact of Shelby County as well as what other recent decisions—like Allen v. Milligan and Moore v. Harper—mean for the state of our democracy. Panelists also discussed solutions that can strengthen our democracy such as state Voting Rights Acts and independent redistricting commissions.

The virtual event was a conversation with Campaign Legal Center's own Paul Smith, senior vice president, Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting, and Kevin P. Hancock, director of strategic litigation for voting rights, redistricting and campaign finance. Gilda Daniels, voting rights consultant for CLC, served as moderator.