Supreme Court refuses Louisiana rehearing request, immediately finalizing Callais to allow map redraw

The Supreme Court rejects Louisiana's request for rehearing in Louisiana v. Callais on May 5, 2026, without comment, and simultaneously grants a request from the state to immediately finalize the opinion — bypassing the normal 25-day waiting period before judgment issues. The accelerated finalization allows Louisiana to begin drawing a new congressional map immediately rather than waiting until late May. Justice Samuel Alito includes a striking footnote noting the majority had wanted to issue the opinion nearly seven months earlier but was delayed by the dissenting justices. The immediate finalization leaves civil rights plaintiffs with no time to seek additional stays and effectively starts the clock for Louisiana's accelerated redistricting before its July 15 rescheduled primary.