After the laughter died down, the Bush administration's chief advocate, Solicitor General Paul Clement, rose to defend the law, observing that candidate Davis's challenge is odd since he has no limits on what he can spend.

NPR: Justices Hear Campaign Finance Case

Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday asked Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, who was defending the law, whether the government was contending that citizens in the South were more racist than those in Northern states.

WSJ: Justices Question Aspects of Voting Rights Act

The liberal justices' remarks explain Solicitor General Verrilli's conflicted response to Chief Justice Roberts.

WSJ: Henninger: Is the South Still Racist?