so, what else could be next? perhaps the rights of same-sex couples? that is what is at stake wit the 303 it is the case of a weddin website designer who says sh doesn t want to have to make websites for same-sex couple due to her personal beliefs. but colorado state law prohibits businesses fro openly discriminating agains customers on the basis o personal characteristics that includes sexual orientation. owner lori smith and her company challenge the states law, claiming that it violates her first amendment rights soon, we could see this suprem court taking acts to stake laws that are designed t protect minorities and marginalized people in groups then there is more against harper a case that could decide how future elections are run north carolina republicans wan to impose a hyper partisan gerrymander at the state voting districts the map was even struck down b the state supreme court. so, gop legislators came u with a second map and asked th united states supreme court to review
okay,ing this can sound like a really wonky case at first blush. but, the reality is that what the court does with this case could truly impact the 2024 congressional elections. the u.s. constitution gives power to regulate how they conduct federal elections. that includes voting districts notable cases in recent years state courts have struck down the maps their state legislatures came up with and ordered them redrawn is that a proper remedy or do the legislatures alone get to decide those lines. at the heart of this case today is the concept of the independent state legislature theory that state lawmakers get to call all the shots when it comes to questions about conducting federal elections. today, attorneys from north carolina lawmakers argue that they are the ones with all the authority and state courts get no say. an argument justice alayna kagan didn t appear to buy during today s three hour argument. this is a theory with big consequences.
hey there. i m victor blackwell. welcome to cnn newsroom. and i m bianna golodryga. good to be back with you. good to have you. today the u.s. supreme court justices took up a case that could reshape elections in the united states. at issue, the independent state legislature theory. now, it would give state lawmakers nearly unchecked power over federal elections including the ability to gerrymander voting districts and change voting rules. allies of former president trump promoted versions of the theory during efforts to overturn the 2020 election. now, the case before the supreme court started as a fight over gerrymandering when a north carolina court struck down a congressional map that it called illegal and partisan. cnn s supreme court reporter ariane devogue is with us now. let s start with these oral arguments. what did we learn? reporter: just out of court, and they took over three hours. and as you said these republican lawmakers are asking the supreme court to take