associated with Shaw v. Reno. Shaw fails to give criteria for an irregular drawing. It is, therefore, unclear how to prove when a shape is bizarre enough to constitute a clear racial motive, making it hard for courts to decide on rulings. As a result, it is possible for courts to interpret Shaw differently. For example, a Georgia court ruled that a district of “average appearance” was invalidated, but North Carolina's snake-like shaped district which could be described as irregular was upheld. There are many discrepancies that each judge must take into account when using Shaw v. Reno as a precedent. In addition to being unclear, Shaw has the ability to disenfranchise minorities. In Reynold v. Sims, the phrase “people, not trees of pastures, vote” can be applied to Shaw, as people, not highways, vote. Despite this, voter rights are being controlled by district shapes in the redistricting process. Shaw v. Reno places a lot of importance on the actual lines drawn, rather than who they contain. This outlook has the potential to disenfranchise minorities, as courts may place more importance on the shape of the district, rather than the underrepresented people. See also Wesberry v. Sanders, : Earlier Georgia congressional redistricting case Wright v. Rockefeller, Miller v. Johnson, Bush v. Vera, Hunt v. Cromartie, Easley v. Cromartie, Georgia v. Ashcroft, : Georgia State Senate redistricting case League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama, List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 509 Further reading Whitaker, L. Paige (April 13, 2015). "Congressional Redistricting and the Voting Rights Act: A Legal Overview". Congressional Research Service. References External links Google Scholar United States equal protection case law United States Supreme Court cases United States Supreme Court cases of the Rehnquist Court United States electoral redistricting case law 1993 in United States case law Gerrymandering in the United States Congressional districts of North Carolina African-American history of North Carolina Legal history of North Carolina