Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act required certain states and localities with histories of racial discrimination to get federal preclearance before changing voting laws. Shelby County, Alabama, challenged the coverage formula in Section 4(b). The Supreme Court struck down the formula as outdated, effectively nullifying preclearance.

3) Why It Mattered
The decision gutted one of the most powerful tools for preventing racial discrimination in voting. States previously covered by preclearance quickly passed restrictive voting laws.