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Rights act is a classic example of exactly the kind of judicial activism the right loves to decry. it is also, and where things get ironic, an example of judicial activism that has backfire potential for conservative movement and for the republican party as a whole. let's start by pinpointing that activism. seven years ago in the summer of 2006 the united states congress, democrats, republicans, even socialists from vermont, all of them duly elected by the voters, took up reauthorization of the voting rights act. extensive, exhaustive hearings, testimony from witnesses and debates on the floor...

Court to be taking on. you do have to wonder what you have the court decisions set to come out, which ruling do you think will have the biggest political implication for people across the country. >> it really depends in these cases. they could do sweeping rulings like throw out affirmative action. they could say we don't think this is necessary anymore. they could throw out the 1969 voting act. you've got some places in this country who still have discriminatory voting practices. they have to presubmit their practices to the justice department. or they could make a big plan for same-sex marri...

Applicant who said she wasn't admitted to the university of texas at austin because of the use of race in the school's admission policies. also sparking a nationwide dialogue on race, a challenge to key provisions of the voting rights act which requires covered jurisdiction to make changes to the voting practices. the law was passed in 1965 to remedy discrimination against minorities. >> the question is whether the supreme court or a majority of the supreme court is going to say that the country has changed in such a way that the law needs to change as well. >> reporter: the justices are alsoi...

Racial discrepancies in covered jurisdictions. for example, in terms of negative an tip thinks, we see that in the south. in terms of more restrictive voting practices, we tend to see the more restrictive practices in covered jurisdictions. for example, having to have more documents to vote or being more restrictive in terms of not allowing people who had prior felony convictions the ability to vote so there are some tangible measurements there but at the same time you question, well, the larger issue of getting people to the polls is pretty much equal across the board so that's the sticking p...

Probably or possibly struck down. if that happens, given how much attention we did pay in this past election to attempts to restrict the right to vote to make it hard for people to vote, do you think there's enough of an outcry in the country to take on bigger national protections of voting? >> krystal, i share your opinion in wanting a section 5 for everybody. i really doubt that states are going to want to give up that power to the federal government. but i do think that in looking forward, if the section 5 of the vra is struck down, you're going to see a push for more normalization of votin...