Supreme Court Lets Texas Death Sentence Stand for 1 Man Despite Disability Findings
Updated
Updated · NPR · Jun 22
Supreme Court Lets Texas Death Sentence Stand for 1 Man Despite Disability Findings
3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jun 22
Summary
Victor Saldaño is now likely to be executed after the Supreme Court declined to hear his challenge over whether he is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution.
Both defense and state experts had concluded Saldaño could not legally be put to death, making the court's refusal to intervene the decisive new step in the case.
The order adds Saldaño's appeal to a string of cases the justices turned away on June 22, including disputes over voting rights, environmental rules and a trademark fight.
As courts raise the bar for proving voter discrimination, what legal remedies still remain effective?
With a key VRA tool gone, how will states guarantee ballot access for voters with disabilities?
Supreme Court’s 2026 Ruling in Louisiana v. Callais: The Sharp Decline of Voting Rights Act Protections and Its Impact on Minority Representation
Overview
On April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Louisiana v. Callais, ruling that the Voting Rights Act does not require Louisiana to create a second majority-minority district. This decision marked a major reinterpretation of Section 2 of the Act, setting stricter standards for proving racial vote dilution and making it much harder for plaintiffs to challenge voting maps that weaken minority voting power. As a result, it is now more difficult to ensure minority voters can elect their preferred candidates, with significant consequences for minority representation nationwide.