A court fundamentally hostile to the rights of voters places the court increasingly at odds with democracy itself.

The justices asked opposing parties in a battle over a Louisiana voting map to submit briefs addressing the matter.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court signaled on Friday that it will assess the legality of a key component of a landmark federal voting rights law, potentially giving its conservative majority a chance to gut a provision enacted 60 years ago that was intended to prevent racial discrimination in voting.

In a pending case on Louisiana’s congressional map, the justices ordered briefing on whether it’s constitutional to intentionally draw majority-Black districts.

The Supreme Court signaled Friday that it will take a broader look at a high-profile redistricting fight over Louisiana’s congressional map, subtly expanding the scope of an appeal that could weaken the landmark Voting Rights Act.

The US Supreme Court indicated it will consider outlawing the use of race in drawing voting maps, setting up a blockbuster showdown with implications for dozens of congressional districts with predominantly minority populations.