Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/22pdf/21-1271_3f14.pdf
Page Number: 10.0

Cite as:  600 U. S. ____ (2023) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

B 
Following our grant of certiorari, the North Carolina Su-
preme  Court  heard  an  appeal  concerning  the  trial  court’s
remedial order.  In December 2022, the Court issued a de-
cision affirming in part, reversing in part, and remanding
the case.  As relevant, it agreed with the trial court’s deter-
mination  that  the  General  Assembly’s  remedial  congres-
sional plan “fell short” of the requirements set forth in Har-
per I.  Harper II, 383 N. C., at 125, 881 S. E. 2d, at 181. 

The legislative defendants sought rehearing, requesting 
that the North Carolina Supreme Court “withdraw” its re-
medial opinion in Harper II.  Pet. for Rehearing in Harper 
v. Hall, No. 413PA21, p. 25 (Jan. 20, 2023) (Pet. for Rehear-
ing).  They also asked the Court to “overrule” its decision in 
Harper I, although they conceded that doing so would not 
“negate the force of its order striking down the 2021 plans.” 
Pet. for Rehearing 24.  The North Carolina Supreme Court 
granted rehearing in Harper II, and we ordered the parties
to submit supplemental briefing concerning our jurisdiction 
over this case in light of that decision.

Following the parties’ submission of supplemental briefs 
in this Court, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued a
decision granting the requests made by the legislative de-
fendants.  The Court withdrew its opinion in Harper II, con-
cerning the remedial maps, and “overruled” its decision in 
Harper I.  See Harper v. Hall, ___ N. C. ___, 886 S. E. 2d 
393 (2023).  Relying on our decision in Rucho and on a re-
newed  look  at  the  constitutional  provisions  at  issue,  the
Court repudiated Harper I ’s conclusion that partisan ger-
rymandering claims are justiciable under the North Caro-
lina Constitution.  See ___ N. C., at ___, 886 S. E. 2d, at 431. 
The North Carolina Supreme Court dismissed the plain-
tiffs’ claims with prejudice.  Id., at ___, 886 S. E. 2d, at 401. 
But it did not reinstate the 2021 congressional plans that 
Harper I had struck down under the North Carolina Con-