Shapiro v. McManus
In brief
The challengers won the right to present their claim to a three-judge court, but the Supreme Court did not decide whether the map is lawful.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 9-0 · December 8, 2015 · Opinion by Justice Scalia
- What it’s about
- Stephen Shapiro and other Maryland citizens challenged a congressional redistricting plan, but a single district judge dismissed their claim without convening a three-judge panel.
- Who it affects
- The Maryland challengers are entitled to have their claim heard by a three-judge court, rather than have one judge dismiss it.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court overturned the dismissal and sent the case back to the lower court (reversed and remanded), ruling that a claim covered by the Three-Judge Court Act must be heard by a three-judge panel.
A federal law, the Three-Judge Court Act, provides for three-judge courts in certain cases.
Question presented
May a single-judge district court determine that a claim governed by the Three-Judge Court Act need not be heard by a three-judge panel, not because the claim is insubstantial, but because the complaint did not state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)?
What the Court decided
Holding
Section 2284 entitles petitioners to make their case before a three-judge court. 140, reversed and remanded.
- Result
- Reversed
The Court's reasoning
The Court said the federal law at issue entitles the challengers to make their case before a three-judge court.
The vote
What's next
The case returns to the lower courts for a three-judge court to hear the challengers’ claim.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Opinion added: Shapiro
More questions
- Did the Supreme Court strike down Maryland’s map?
- No. It ruled only that the challengers were entitled to make their case before a three-judge court.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.