North Carolina court appears poised to overrule itself in gerrymandering case

Demonstrators outside the state supreme court in Raleigh, where justices heard oral arguments in Harper v Hall. Photograph: Bob Karp/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

The North Carolina supreme court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a major gerrymandering case that could have significant implications for US voting rights.

In a highly unusual move, the North Carolina court appears poised to overrule itself and get rid of congressional and state legislative districts it approved last year. The GOP-drawn map that was struck down could have produced a 11-3 advantage for Republicans in the congressional delegation. The one that replaced it was far less advantageous to the GOP and wound up producing a 7-7 split in the 2022 midterm elections. The court’s decision would probably allow Republicans to get a more advantageous map back in place.