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Has one provision of Voting Rights Act run its course?

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    SCOTUS hears arguments over part of landmark legislation

  • Duration 1:59
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The Supreme Court heard arguments today on what is considered its biggest case of the current session.

Involves whether parts of America have learned their lesson.

About the rights of minority voters correspondent Shannon Bream explains.

Since 1965.

The voting rights act has required a number of states and counties with a history of discrimination against minority voters.

To seek pre clearance from either the Justice Department or federal court based in Washington before making any changes to their voting procedures and Shelby county Alabama argues much has changed in the ensuing years and evidence shows that requirement is no longer necessary.

Yet justice Stephen Breyer asked quote it's an old disease it's gotten a lot better but it's still there so if you had a remedy that really helped it worked but it wasn't totally over.

Wouldn't you keep that remedy.

If there were no cost -- what we're doing if it wasn't about a direct infringement on the Sovereign States that might be an argument.

But here -- a very different situation that's a very high cost of case.

For the remedy.

Congress must renew the act in order for it to remain valid and has done so numerous times.

But today justice Antonin Scalia reference something he called the perpetuation of racial entitlements saying quote.

-- society adopts racial entitlements it is very difficult to get out of them to the normal political process sees.

Adding that no lawmaker could possibly benefit by casting a no votes.

Hinting that congress may not be the most -- body to consider whether or not -- actually renewed protection.

The right to vote is an American entitlement good as a democratic.

Entitlement.

And those who would seek.

To using incendiary rhetoric from the bench of the Supreme Court should think twice about their place in history.

A number of the justices were bothered that the act only applies to certain states still there is certainly evidence of discrimination in others.

Making the ultimate question about whether the law as it stands can passed constitutional Muster.

-- Shannon -- -- the Supreme Court Shannon thank you.

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