Record returned to Supreme Court of North Carlina.

MANDATE ISSUED.

Adjudged to be AFFIRMED Kennedy, J., announced the judgment of the Court and delivered an opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Alito, J., joined. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Scalia, J., joined. Souter, J., filed a (orders list)

Argued. For petitioners: Christopher G. Browning, Jr., Solicitor General, Raleigh, N.C. For respondents: Carl W. Thurman, III, Wilmington, N.C.; and Daryl Joseffer, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. (for Unite

Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. (orders list)

Reply of petitioners Gary Bartlett, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, et al. filed. (Distributed)

Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.

Brief amicus curiae of Florida House of Representatives filed. (Distributed)

Brief amici curiae of American Legislative Exchange Council, et al. filed. (Distributed)

Brief amici curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation, et al. filed. (Distributed)

Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)

Motion for leave to file amici brief out of time filed by National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, et al. GRANTED. (orders list)

Brief of respondents Dwight Strickland, et al. filed. (Distributed)

Record received from the Supreme Court of North Carolina. (1 envelope)

CIRCULATED

Motion for leave to file amici brief out of time filed by National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, et al.

Brief amici curiae of Illinois, et al. filed.

Brief amici curiae of Sanford Bishop, Jr., et al. filed.

Brief amici curiae of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, et al. filed.

Brief amici curiae of Nathaniel Persily, et al. filed.

Brief amicus curiae of Campaign Legal Center filed.

Brief amici curiae of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, et al. filed.

Brief amicus curiae of League of Women Voters of the United States filed.

Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs received.)

Brief of petitioners Gary Bartlett, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, et al. filed.

SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, October 14, 2008.

The time within which to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including August 11, 2008.

The time within which to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including June 10, 2008.

Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Honorable Vernon Sykes and Honorable Roger Corbin GRANTED. (orders list)

Petition GRANTED. (orders list)

Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by League of Women Voters of the United States GRANTED. (orders list)

Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by NAACP, Cindy Moore, Milford Farrior, and Mary Jordan GRANTED. (orders list)

DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 14, 2008.

Reply of petitioners Gary Bartlett, et al. filed. (Distributed)

Brief of respondents Dwight Strickland, et al. in opposition filed.

Response Requested . (Due February 14, 2008)

DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 15, 2008.

Waiver of right of respondents Dwight Strickland, et al. to respond filed.

Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by NAACP, Cindy Moore, Milford Farrior, and Mary Jordan.

Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by League of Women Voters of the United States.

Brief amici curiae of Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, and Ohio filed.

Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Honorable Vernon Sykes and Honorable Roger Corbin.

Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 26, 2007)

Gary Bartlett, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, et al., Petitioner, represented by Christopher G. Browning Jr.

Dwight Strickland, et al., Respondent, represented by Carl W. Thurman III

American Legislative Exchange Council, et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by E. Marshall Braden

Campaign Legal Center, Amicus Curiae, represented by J. Gerald Hebert

Florida House of Representatives, Amicus Curiae, represented by Scott D. Makar

Honorable Vernon Sykes and Honorable Roger Corbin, Amicus Curiae, represented by Barbara Elaine Etkind

Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, and Ohio, Amicus Curiae, represented by Michael A. Scodro

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by Matthew Michael Hoffman

League of Women Voters of the United States, Amicus Curiae, represented by Sam Hirsch

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by Lois D. Thompson

Nathaniel Persily, et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by Nathaniel Persily

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by Anita S. Earls

Pacific Legal Foundation, et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by Sharon L. Browne

Sanford Bishop, Jr., et al., Amicus Curiae, represented by Jeh Charles Johnson

United States, Amicus Curiae, represented by Edwin S. Kneedler