Case ID: f-supp-2d_189/html/0512-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "E. GRADY JOLLY, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John Robert SMITH, Shirley Hall, and Gene Walker Plaintiffs v. Eric CLARK, Secretary of State of Mississippi; Mike Moore, Attorney General for the State of Mississippi; Ronnie Musgrove, Governor of Mississippi; Mississippi Republican Executive Committee; and Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee Defendants
    No. CIV.A. 301CV-855WS.
    United States District Court, S.D. Mississippi, Jackson Division.
    Feb. 4, 2002.
    Arthur F. Jernigan, Jr., Watson & Jer-nigan, P.A., Jackson, for Plaintiffs.
    T. Hunt Cole, Jr., Office of the Attorney General, Michael B. Wallace, Phelps Dunbar, John G. Jones, Jones & Funderburg, Herbert Lee, Jr., Lee & Associates, Robert B. McDuff, Robert B. McDuff, Attorney, Jackson, MS, for Defendants.
    E. GRADY JOLLY, Circuit Judge, and HENRY T. WINGATE and DAVID C. BRAMLETTE, III, District Judges.
   ORDER

E. GRADY JOLLY, Circuit Judge.

Attached hereto is this court’s congressional redistricting plan for the State of Mississippi, along with an analysis thereof. This court proposes to implement this plan absent the timely preclearance of the redistricting plan adopted by the State Chancery Court, which is now pending for preclearance before the United States Attorney General.

The parties are hereby directed to show cause by written objections, why this court’s redistricting plan, if implemented, would not satisfy all state and federal statutory and constitutional requirements; and to make any other critical comments and suggestions with respect to the plan that the parties deem appropriate. Said objections, comments and suggestions must be filed with the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9. Failure to object in accordance with this order will be deemed a waiver of all further objections to this plan.

Population Summary Report

Monday February 4, 2002 7:54 AM

DISTRICT POPULATION DEVIATION , DEVN. [18+JPop] [18+JBIk] 18+JBlk]

711,160 - 5 0.00 521,745 124,207 23.81%

711,164 - 1 0.00 501,887 297,121 59.20%

711,164 - 1 0.00 523,593 158,994 30.37%

711,170 5 0.00 522,246 104,937 20.09%

Total Population: 2,844,658

Ideal District Population: 711,165

Summary

Population Range: 711,160 to 711,170

Ratio Range: 1.00

Absolute Range: - 5 to 5

Absolute Overall Range: 10.00

Relative Range: 0.00% to 0.00%

Relative Overall Range: 0.00%

Absolute Mean Deviation: 3.00

Relative Mean Deviation: 0.00%

Standard Deviation: 4.12

Political Subdivisions Split Between Districts

Monday February 4, 2002 7:50 AM

Number of subdivisions not split:

County 74

Number of subdivisions split into more than one district:

County 8

Number of subdivision splits which affect no population:

County 0

Split Counts

County

Cases where a County is split among 2 Districts: 8

Number of times a County has been split into more than one district: 8

Total of County splits: 16

County District Population

Split Counties:

218,968 Hinds

31,832 Hinds

7,212 Jasper

10,937 Jasper

2,235 Jones

62,723 Jones

11,361 Leake

9,579 Leake

27,631 Madison

Madison ^ © ^ W

Marion Tjí C- © CO

Marion LQ CO l — 1 Ol ^

Webster hO © H

Webster LO CCO

Winston CÓ T — I H

Winston <M o to © CO

Plan Components Report

Monday, February 4,2002 8:02 AM

Population [18 + JPop] [18+_Blk]

District 1

Alcorn County 34,558 26,310 2,645

Benton County 8,026 5,867 1,942

Calhoun County 15,069 11,270 2,892

Chickasaw County 19,440 13,874 5,196

Choctaw County 9,758 7,044 1,934

Clay County 21,979 15,643 8,129

DeSoto County 107,199 77,005 8,063

Grenada County 23,263 16,945 6.385

Itawamba County 22,770 17,257 1,065

Lafayette County 38,744 31.170 6,908

Lee County 75,755 54,793 11,904

Lowndes County 61,586 43,963 16,500

Marshall County 34,993 25,695 12,185

Monroe County 38,014 27,673 7,757

Panola County 34,274 24,193 10,518

Pontotoc County 26,726 19,351 2,527

Prentiss County 25,556 19.170 2,330

Tate County 25,370 18,502 5.385

Tippah County 20,826 15,620 2,297

Tishomingo County 19,163 14,724 465

Union County 25,362 18,783 2,554

Webster County VTD: Beliefontaine 550 413 44

Population [18+JPop] [18+_Blk]

District 1

VTD: Big Black 420 301 5

VTD: Bluff Springs 287 210 96

VTD: Cadaretta 227 191 22

VTD: Clarkson 673 492 38

VTD: Cumberland 505 359 65

VTD: Eupora 1 1,440 1,011 517

VTD: Eupora 2 701 537 73

VTD: Eupora 3 881 672 115

VTD: Fame 489 372 8

VTD: Fay 219 166 12

VTD: Grady 409 310 40

VTD: Mantee 572 454 39

VTD: Mathiston 897 656 79

VTD: North Walthall 263 190 7

VTD: South Walthall 302 228 44

VTD: Tomnolen 709_517_63

Webster County Subtotal 9,544 7,079 1,267

Winston County

VTD: Gum Branch 134_103_12

Winston County Subtotal 134 103 12

Yalobusha County 13,051_9,711_3,347

District 1 Subtotal 711,160 521,745 124,207

District 2

Attala County 19,661 14,562 5,321

Bolivar County 40,633 28,587 17,107

Carroll County 10,769 8,134 2,788

Claiborne County 11,831 -8,724 7,145

Coahoma County 30,622 20,514 13,183

Copiah County 28,757 21,014 9,939

Hinds County

VTD: 1 297 251 143

VTD: 10 731 546 526

VTD: 11 984 745 698

VTD: 12 1,062 764 758

VTD: 13 1,309 955 942

VTD: 15 488 410 67

VTD: 16 2,132 1,530 1,115

VTD: 18 1,227 899 858

VTD: 19 1,148 854 845

VTD: 2 940 710 695

VTD: 20 1,880 1,237 1,213

VTD: 21 1,022 637 573

VTD: 22 2,605 1,817 1,770

VTD: 23 2,484 1,680 1,672

VTD: 24 2,382 1,345 1,195

VTD: 25 2,463 1,511 1,394

VTD: 26 1,328 844 709

VTD: 27 1,931 1,512 1,492

Population [lS+Pop] [18+Blk}

District 2

VTD: 29 1,037 804 799

VTD: 30 L426 995 984

VTD: 31 1,939 1,452 1,438

VTD: 38 1,442 1,007 562

VTD: 39 1,695 1,154 1,061

VTD: 4 1,121 743 732

VTD: 40 2,391 1,752 1,683

VTD: 41 2,818 2,004 1,965

VTD: 42 3,156 2,319 1,791

VTD: 43 4,359 2,968 2,350

VTD: 47 3,107 2,444 2,015

VTD: 5 1,995 1,702 725

VTD: 50 968 706 648

VTD: 51 1,013 677 662

VTD: 52 2,319 1,598 1,536

VTD: 53 585 391 374

VTD: 54 1.149 887 742

VTD: 55 1.848 1.226 1.127

VTD: 56 1,027 610 586

VTD: 57 1,436 940 910

VTD: 58 2,025 1,477 1,428

Vii): ~i9 ~,U79 1,197 1,730

VTIJ: 6 ~.314 L'Thl 936

VTD: 60 987 597 545

VTD: 61 2,406 1,524 1,429

VTD: 62 2,545 1,631 1,430

VTD: 63 1,062 772 763

VTD: 64 1,101 821 800

VTJJ: 66 231 160 158

VTD: 67 2.186 1.408 1.191

VTD: 68 4.122 2.842 1.767

VTD: 69 2,083 1,340 841

VTD: 70 1,230 774 388

VTD: 71 2,069 1,391 698

VTD: 72 2,477 1,506 865

VTD: 73 1.887 1.367 57C

VTD: 74 1:597 1:099 406

VTD: 75 1,430 943 423

VTD: 77 2,GO1 1,798 596

VTD: 76 2~526 1.891 474

VTD: 80 3,625 2,332 2,135

VTD: 81 2d31 1,614 1.477

VTD: 82 2,252 1,564 1,495

VTD: 33 4,481 3,123 2,854

VTD: 84 420 326 295

VTD: 85 3,943 2,759 2,733

V1'D: 86 2.615 L506 1.407

VTD: 87 2,095 1,381 957

VTD: 88 2,927 2,091 1,614

VTD: 89 2.114 1.433 902

VTD: 90 1.666 1,213 494

VTD: 91 3:212 2,090 1,643

VTD: 92 3,598 2,481 1,106

VTD: 93 1.845 1.293 773

VTD: 94 2.~57 2.442 1.R~O

VTD: 95 910 657 179

VTD: 96 2,828 2,143 713

Population [18 +Pop] [18 +Blk]

District 2

VTD: 97 659 486 109

VTD: Bolton 1,894 1,406 938

VTD: Brownsville 754 556 315

VTD: Byram 1 4,541 3,264 471

VTD: Byram 2 2,063 1,567 168

VTD: Cayuga 491 375 218

VTD: Chapel Hill 1,378 980 454

VTD: Clinton 1 4,406 3,713 543

VTD: Clinton 2 5,301 3,717 558

VTD: Clinton 3 4,439 3,352 740

VTD: Clinton 4 2,201 1,602 192

VTD: Clinton 5 1,590 1,231 57

VTD: Clinton 6 3,697 2,710 714

VTD: Cynthia 1,005 714 516

VTD: Dry Grove 1,076 798 221

VTD: Edwards 3,715 2,552 1,893

VTD: Jackson State 1,658 1,596 1,579

VTD: Learned 924 661 308

VTD: Old Byram 2,930 2,183 201

VTD: Pinehaven 2,749 1,932 823

VTD: Pocahontas 620 483 310

VTD: Raymond 1 3,346 2,237 911

VTD: Raymond 2 4,264 3,595 1,316

VTD: Spring Ridge 4,297 3,046 1,070

VTD: St. Thomas 560 390 374

VTD: Terry 5,242 3,958 1,442

VTD: Tinnin 901 611 143

VTD: Utica 1 1,297 953 388

VTD: Utica 2 1 965 732

Hinds County Subtotal 218 155 98

Holmes County 21 14 10

Humphreys County 11 7 5

Issaquena County 2 1 962

Jefferson County 9 6 5

Leake County

VTD: Conway 961 684 434

VTD: East Carthage 1 1 178

VTD: North Carthage 2 1 324

VTD: Ofahoma 660 463 372

VTD: Singleton 1 1 243

VTD: South Carthage 1 1 590

VTD: Thomaztown 860 642 323

VTD: West Carthage 1 974 664

VTD: Wiggins 819 586 408

Leake County Subtotal 11 8 3

Leflore County 37 26 16

Madison County

VTD: Bible Church 964 509 493

VTD: Camden 1 1 920

VTD: Cameron 120 96 47

Population [18+_Pop] [18+Blk]

District 2

VTD: Canton Pet. 7 707 519 459

VTD: Canton Precinct 1 2,644 1,824 1,187

VTD: Canton Precinct 2 2,511 1,886 795

VTD: Canton Precinct 3 603 413 260

VTD: Canton Precinct 4 3,332 2,263 1,820

VTD: Canton Precinct 5 1,732 1,082 1,070

VTD: Couparle 49 41 33

VTD: Gluckstadt 3,432 2,519 336

VTD: Liberty 2,118 1,426 1,262

VTD: Luther Branson School 1,207 800 655

VTD: Mad. Co. Bap. Fam. Lf.Ct. 2,013 1,188 1,185

VTD: Magnolia Heights 1,916 1,308 1,006

VTD: New Industrial Park 577 378 315

VTD: Sharon 855 553 455

VTD: Tougaloo 605 584 581

VTD: Virlilia 532 369 173

Madison County Subtotal 27 18 13

Montgomery County 12 8 3

Quitman County 10 6 4

Sharkey County 6 4 2

Sunflower County 34 24 16

Tallahatchie County 14 10 5

Tunica County 9 6 4

Warren County 49 35 14

Washington County 62 43 25

Yazoo County 28.149 20 9

District 2 Subtotal 711 501 297

District 3

Adams County 34 25 12

Amite County 13 10 3

Covington County 19 13 4

Franklin County 8 6 1

Hinds County

VTD: 14 1 1 201

VTD: 17 853 694 40

VTD: 32 1 1 61

VTD: 33 1 934 16

VTD: 34 2 1 10

VTD: 35 2 1 160

VTD: 36 1 1 436

VTD: 37 1 1 420

VTD: 44 3 2 463

VTD: 45 2 2 76

Population [18 + Pop] [18 + J31k]

District 3

VTD: 46 2267 1.875 262

JT~ 78 4.337 3,674 433

VTfl 79 2.990 2.2S9 867

VTD: 8 1,412 1,211 143

VTD: 9 Hinds County Subtotal

31,832 25,509 3,662 Jasner County VTD:

Bay Springs

Beat 3 1,721 1,287 524 VTD: Bay Springs

Beat 4 2,170 1,513 865 VTD: Garlandsville 105

81 43 VTD: Holders Church

1,366 1.003 54€ VTD: Louin 1,234

862 424 VTD: Montrose Jasper

County Subtotal 7,212 5,197

2,637 Jefferson Davis County 13,962 9,998

5,269 Jones County VTD: Bruce 530

428 14

VTD: Centerville 504 375 2

VTD: Hebron Jones County Subtotal

2,235 1,641 557 Kemper

County 10,453 7,795 4,231 Lauderdale County

78,161 57,370 19,661 Lawrence County

13,258 9,635 2,859 Leake County

VTD: Ebenezer 956 687 374

VTD: Edinburg

946 714 4 VTD: Freeny

1,368 958 86 VTD: Good

Hope 1,044 776 197 VTD:

Lena - 861 625 32~ VTD:

Madden 996 741 87 VTD: Renfroe

608 465 60 VTD: Salem

758 569 65 VTD: Sunrise

669 507 22 VTD: Walnut

Grove Leake County Subtotal 9,579

7,015 1,760 Lincoln County 33466 24,324

6,716 Madison County VTD: Bear Ci~eek

2,461 1,749 500 VTD: Flora

1.756 1.301

349 VTD: Hi~h1and Colony Ban. Ch.

2.137 1.440 294 VTD: Lorman-Cavalier

1,531 1,148 409 VTD: Madison 1 1,651 1,149

19 VTD: Madison 2 3,585

2,582 63 VTD: Madison 3 3,853

2,658 173 VTD: iViadisonville 427 323

81 VTD: Main Harbor 1,953 1,574

51 VTD: RatliffFerrv 1,075 795

VTD V'l'U: k~icige1and 1 bU~ 51

VTD: RatliffFerrv 1 795 410

V'l'U: k~icige1and 1 bU~

Population [18 + JPop] [18+JBlk]

District 3

VTD: Ridgeland 3 3,990 3,138 1,027

VTD: Ridgeland 4 2,571 2,221 468

VTD: Ridgeland First Meth. Ch. 2,941 1,964 529

VTD: Ridgeland Tennis Center 5,472 4,050 307

VTD: Smith School 499 380 39

VTD: Trace Harbor 1,820 1,277 34

VTD: Victory Baptist Church 3,788 2,449 69

VTD: Whispering Lake 1,968 1,383 128

Madison County Subtotal 47,043 34,417 5,453

Marion County

VTD: Broom 831 590 202

VTD: Carley 1,389 1,016 128

VTD: Cedar Grove 820 573 167

VTD: Darbun 447 347 47

VTD: Foxworth 1,691 1,187 347

VTD: Goss 837 614 101

VTD: Kokomo 985 718 191

VTD: Morgantown 777 581 8

VTD: Pittman 919 669 7

VTD: Stovall 907 607 253

VTD: White Bluff 139 96 2

Marion County Subtotal 9,742 6,998 1,453

Neshoba County 28,684 20,583 3,609

Newton County 21,838 16,126 4,495

Noxubee County 12,548 8,697 5,751

Oktibbeha County 42,902 33,877 11,179

Pike County 38,940 28,154 12,331

Rankin County 115,327 85,452 13,901

Scott County 28,423 20,293 7,220

Simpson County 27,639 19,920 6,110

Smith County 16,182 11,731 2,354

Walthall County 15,156 10,853 4,242

Webster County

VTD: Maben 750 528 138

Webster County Subtotal 750 528 138

Wilkinson County 10,312 7,648 4,992

Winston County

VTD: American Legion 1,989 1,338 1,061

VTD: Bethany 242 186 21

VTD: Betheden-Loakfoma 363 278 87

VTD: Bond 915 673 164

VTD: Calvary 339 258 80

VTD: County Agent 1,792 1,188 941

Population {lS+.Pop] [18+Blk]

District 3

VTD: Crystal Ridge 335 287 65

VTD: Dean Park 404 269 239

VTD: E.M.E.P.A. 1,357 1,007 266

VTD: Elementary School 834 610 285

VTD: Ellison Ridge 436 343 73

VTD: Fairground 2,044 1,583 579

VTD: Ford School 429 334 46

VTD: Hinze 69 52 1

IJTD: Liberty 594 413 238

VTD: Lobutcha 292 206 96

VTD: Louisville Electric 224 158 40

VTD: Louisville High School 429 305 68

VTD: Lovorn Tractor 297 244 16

VTD: Mars Hill 343 262 43

VTD: Nanih Waiya 1,378 1,005 169

VTD: Nanih 573 410 86 VTD:

New Hope 271 222 13 VTD:

Noxapater 1,618 1,200 344 VTD:

Old National Guard Armory 904 750 59 VTD:

Sinai 369 276 147 VTD:

Vowell 263 201 99 VTD:

VTD: Zion Ridge Ridge 873 602 494

Winston County Subtotal 20 14 5

District 3 Subtotal 711 523 158

District 4

Clarke County 17 13 4

Forrest County 72 54 16

George County 19 13 1

Greene County 13 10 2

Hancock County 42 32 1

Hawison County 189 140 26

Jackson County 131 95 17

Jasper County

VTD: Antioch 614 456 48

VTD: Claiborne 617 449 213

VTD: Cooks Mill 770 527 468

VTD: Fellowship 234 181 54

VTD: Heidelberg 2 1 1

VTD: Midway 525 375 213

VTD: Mossville 1 1 235

VTD: Palestine 189 141 91

VTD: Philadelphia 578 425 297

VTD: Ras 147 113 61

VTD: Rose Hill 941 708 275

VTD: Stringer 1 1 74

VTD: Vossburg 945 608 543

Jasper County Subtotal 10 7 3

Population [l8+YopJ [18+J31k}

District 4

Jones County

VTD: Anthonys Florist 927 582 414

VTD: Antioch (28067310) 596 472 0

VTD: Blackwell 135 93 3

VTD: Calhoun 3,275 2,525 43

VTD: Cameron Center 709 515 131

VTD: Cooks Ave. Comm. Ctr. 878 626 608

VTD: County Barn 1,861 1,498 317

VTD: Currie 270 185 169

VTD: ElIisville Court House 1,507 1,216 254

VTD: Erata 642 485 233

VTD: Gitano 447 335 84

VTD: Glade School 1,932 1,480 24

VTD: Johnson 1,001 706 4

VTD: Lamar School 1,768 1,292 356

VTD: Landrum Comm. Ctr. 740 570 1

VTD: Laurel Courthouse 1,771 1,291 352

VTD: Maple Street YWCA 472 329 302

VTD: Mason School 2,078 1,668 39

VTD: Matthews 867 627 61

VTD: Moselle 1,820 1,351 185

VTD: Myrick 1,832 1,359 8

VTD: National Guard Armory 2,353 1,606 1,151

VTD: Nora Davis School 1,790 1,293 1,145

VTD: Oak Park School 1,805 1,109 1,078

VTD: Old Health Dept. 499 307 268

VTD: Ovett 1,301 954 12

VTD: Pendorf 646 493 14

VTD: Pinegrove 1,510 1,168 84

VTD: Pleasant Ridge 892 694 5

VTD: Powers Comm. Ctr. 1,595 1,158 233

VTD: Rainey 1,567 1,174 1

VTD: Roosevelt 601 427 323

VTD: Rustin 1,144 853 0

VTD: Sandersville Civic Center 1,390 1,044 92

VTD: Sandhill 924 716 1

VTD: Shady Grove 4,332 3,150 572

VTD: Sharon 3,508 2,604 375

VTD: Shelton 1,130 854 180

VTD: Soso 1,600 1,175 502

VTD: South Jones 1,357 1,047 191

VTD: Stainton 1,882 1,445 458

VTD: Tuckers 1,683 1,262 33

VTD: St. Fire Stn 803 655 76 VTD:

Union 1,216 902 28 VTD:

VTD: West Jones Jones 1 1 240

Jones County Subtotal 62 46 10

Lamar County 39 28 3

Marion County

VTD: Balls Mill 1 806 169

VTD: City Hall Beat 3 828 598 205

VTD: Courthouse Beat 4 1 1 123

VTD: East Columbia 2 1 988

VTD: Hub 919 662 324

VTD: Jefferson Middle School 688 437 420

Population [18 + JPop] [18+JBlk]

District 4

VTD: Morris W OO H DO CD ID tH

National Guard Beat 1 H Q CO Q O CO CD 03

VTD: Pinebur H 05 CJ CD M R5 Q

VTD: Beat 2 CO M ^ CO ^ i—l Q i—l

VTD: Hook h1 ^ O CO CO ID

VTD: South Columbia Ü1 CD <1 H CO «O OO

VTD: Union (28091103) tO CO DO CD ^ ^

15,853 11,481 3,809 Marion County Subtotal

Pearl River County 48,621 35,515 3,927

Perry County 12,138 8,655 1,692

Stone County . 13,622 9,966 1,777

Wayne County 21,216_15,014_5,112

District 4 Subtotal_ 711,170_522,246 104,937

State totals 2,844,658 2,069,471 685,259

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS CONSIDERED

Population Equality The United States Constitution requires a good-faith effort to ensure, as nearly as is practicable, that a State’s congressional districts contain equal population. This court has made every effort to achieve absolute population equality without splitting voting precincts. The population deviation range is from + 5 people in District 4 to -5 people in District 1. The effort to achieve population equality among the districts explains in significant part why some counties must be split.

Majority-Minority District

The Voting Rights Act requires that one congressional district be maintained in the State with an appropriate majority of black voting age residents. This district is represented on the map as District 2. Based on the figures from the 2000 Census, District 2 under the currently existing five-district plan has a black voting age population of 61%. Any significant variation in that percentage—up or down—constitutes retrogression of the' voting rights of black residents of District 2 under § 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Under this court’s redistricting plan, the black voting age population in District 2 is 59.20%. The effort to maintain the appropriate majority of black voting age citizens in District 2 further explains why some counties must be split.

Compactness

The court has attempted to achieve, as nearly as possible, four compact districts. The ability to create compact districts is limited by the distribution of population. Sparsely populated districts necessarily will be less compact than heavily populated districts as a result of the population equality principle. Furthermore, a more compact plan cannot be drawn for two reasons: First, it would not be possible to prevent retrogression in District 2; and, secondly, it would be a barrier to including as much as possible of the currently existing districts 3 and 4 in the new District 3.

County and Municipal Boundaries

The plan splits eight counties: Hinds, Jasper, Jones, Leake, Madison, Marion, Webster, and Winston. We note that eleven counties are split under the currently existing five-district congressional plan adopted by the Mississippi Legislature in 1992. We attach a copy of that currently existing plan for reference.

In this court’s plan today, Jasper and Marion Counties are split as part of the effort to maintain as much of currently existing district 4 in new District 3 as is feasible, subject to the constraints of population equality. Furthermore, Jasper County is split in a particular way to avoid splitting the town of Bay Springs. Hinds, Leake, and Madison Counties are split as part of the effort to prevent retrogression in District 2, as well as to help achieve population equality. Jones County is split so as not to remove the incumbent from his district and also to help achieve population equality. Webster County is split to avoid dividing the town of Maben, which lies partially in Oktibbeha County and partially in Webster County, among two districts. Winston County is split to help achieve population equality. The only municipality that is split is the City of Jackson. Mayor Johnson testified in Chancery Court that he preferred that the City be represented by two congressmen. In sum, the county splits are necessitated by: the population equality requirement; preservation of the majority-minority district at an appropriate percentage; preservation of the cores of currently existing districts 3 and 4; and avoiding having incumbents districted out of their residences.

Historical and Regional Interests

The plan preserves as much as possible, given the constraints of population equality and § 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the cores of the Mississippi River/Delta region, East Central Mississippi, Southwest Mississippi, North Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast region.

Universities and Military Bases

The plan is drawn to assure that the 4 major research universities are also in separate districts. The military bases located in Lowndes, Lauderdale, and Harrison Counties are also in separate districts under this court’s plan.

Growth Areas

The plan is drawn to provide that each district has at least one major growth area. District 1 contains DeSoto and Lee Counties, as under the currently existing five-district plan. District 2 contains the Nissan Planf/Gluckstadt area of Madison County, as it does under the currently existing five-district plan, and the Byram and Clinton areas of Hinds County, which are in district 4 under the currently existing five-district plan. District 3 contains southern Madison County and Rankin County. District 4 contains the Gulf Coast area.

Combination of Currently Existing Districts 3 and J

In drawing District 3, consideration was given to including as much of the currently existing districts 3 and 4 in the new combined District 3 as possible. The new District 3 contains all or part of 14 counties from each of the currently existing districts 3 and 4, respectively.

The new District 3 includes the portion of Jones County which contains the incumbent’s residence. It includes all or part of 14 of the 19 counties that comprise currently existing district 3: Jasper, Jones, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Rankin, Scott, Smith, and Winston; however, it is necessary to eliminate: the portions of Attala County and Wayne County that are in currently existing district 3 for concerns of retrogression and population equality, respectively; and all of Clarke, Clay, and Lowndes Counties, primarily because of population equality.

The new District 3 includes all of Jefferson Davis County, which contains the residence of the incumbent for currently existing district 4. It includes all or part of 14 of the 15 counties that comprise currently existing district 4: Adams, Amite, Coving-ton, Franklin, Hinds, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Simpson, Walthall, and Wilkinson; however, it is necessary to eliminate Copiah County for reasons of population equality with District 2 and to prevent retrogression of voting rights of black residents of District 2.

Protection of Incumbent Residences

No incumbent would be required to move in order to run in the district in which he resides.

Distance of Travel Within District

As is expected to occur when the number of districts is reduced from five to four, the distances of travel within the districts are increased. The distance of travel within District 1 is approximately the same size as under the plan submitted by the plaintiffs, and is substantially less than it is under the plan submitted by the intervenors. The new District 2 is slightly larger than currently existing district 2, but this is unavoidable in the light of the population deficit in currently existing district 2, which grew more slowly than any other district in the State. The distance of travel within new District 3 is dictated by the effort to combine currently existing districts 3 and 4, as well as by the effort to keep the four major research universities in separate districts. The distance of travel in new District 4 is slightly greater than it is in currently existing district 5. This is necessitated by the effort to include in District 3 as much of currently existing district 4 as is feasible. The distance of travel within new District 4 is substantially less than that within district 4 in the plan submitted by the plaintiffs.

SUMMARY

In sum, the court has attempted to apply all appropriate neutral factors that are recognized by the United States Supreme Court and federal redistricting courts. As noted, these factors include, first, the constitutional demand for population equality among the districts, and secondly, the Voting Rights Act requirement that one equally populated district be drawn to include a majority of black residents of voting age. While respecting county, city and precinct lines and compactness of each district, the court sought to give appropriate value to the following factors: that District 3 should include as much as possible of the currently existing districts 3 and 4; that growth areas, research universities and military bases should be placed in separate districts if otherwise practicable; that historical and regional interests should be respected; that no incumbent should be required to move; and that travel distances within the districts be as minimal as possible, consistent with the other requirements. When all feasible adjustments were made for these factors, further adjustments were necessary to satisfy one person-one vote requirements, and retrogression concerns.

Current Congressional Districts