Cite as: 602 U. S. ____ (2024)
3
THOMAS, J., concurring in part
abandon our misguided efforts and leave districting to politicians.
I
Determining the proper shape of a district is a political
question not suited to resolution by federal courts. The
questions presented by districting claims are “ ‘nonjusticiable,’ or ‘political questions.’ ” Vieth v. Jubelirer, 541 U. S.
267, 277 (2004) (plurality opinion). We have explained that
a question is nonjusticiable when there is “ ‘a lack of judicially discoverable and manageable standards for resolving’ ” the issue or “ ‘a textually demonstrable constitutional
commitment of the issue to a coordinate political department.’ ” Id., at 277–278 (quoting Baker v. Carr, 369 U. S.
186, 217 (1962)).
In Rucho v. Common Cause, 588 U. S. 684 (2019), we applied those principles to conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims are nonjusticiable. Partisan gerrymandering
claims allege that a political map unduly favors one political party over another. We explained that partisan gerrymandering claims therefore present questions about how to
“apportion political power as a matter of fairness,” despite
the fact that “[t]here are no legal standards discernible in
the Constitution for making such judgments, let alone limited and precise standards that are clear, manageable, and
politically neutral.” Id., at 705, 707. We bolstered our conclusion by reference to “the Framers’ decision to entrust districting to political entities” in the Elections Clause, Art. I,
§4, cl. 1. Id., at 697, 701. Because courts “have no commission to allocate political power and influence in the absence
of a constitutional directive or legal standards to guide us
in the exercise of such authority,” we held that partisan gerrymandering claims are nonjusticiable. Id., at 721.
The same logic demonstrates that racial gerrymandering
and vote dilution claims are also nonjusticiable. As with