Document: 471 U.S. 222 105 S.Ct. 1916 85 L.Ed.2d Nell HUNTER, et al., etc., Appellants,v.Victor UNDERWOOD and Carmen Edwards etc. No. 84-76. Argued Feb. 26, 1985. Decided April 16, Syllabus Article VIII, § 182, of the Alabama Constitution 1901 provides for disenfranchisement persons convicted certain enumerated felonies misdemeanors, including "any . crime involving moral turpitude." Appellees, one whom is black other white, were disenfranchised by County Registrars under 182 because each had been misdemeanor presenting a worthless check, determined to be turpitude. Appellees brought an action in Federal District Court declaratory injunctive relief. The case was tried on claim, inter alia, that misdemeanors encompassed within intentionally adopted disenfranchise blacks account race their inclusion has intended effect. found major purpose Convention at which adopted, but there no showing based upon racism, proof impermissible motive would not warrant its invalidation face permissible disenfranchising those crimes. Appeals reversed, holding evidence discriminatory intent motivating factor adopting could finding intent, accordingly it have absence racially motivation, section as applied misdemeanants violated Fourteenth Amendment. court also implicitly impact indisputable. Held: Section violates Equal Protection Clause Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp., 429 252, 97 555, 50 450. That may discriminate against poor whites well render nugatory blacks, being clear latter "but-for" motivation 182. There crimes turpitude Convention. Events occurring since cannot validate section. Nor can Tenth Amendment save legislation prohibited And implicit authorization 2 deny vote citizens "for participation rebellion, or crime," does except from operation Clause. Pp. 227-233. 730 F.2d 614 (CA11 1984), affirmed. James S. Ward, Birmingham, Ala., appellants. Wilson Edward Still, Jr., appellees. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. 1 We are required this decide constitutionality Art. 1901, of, among offenses, turpitude."** Edwards, black, Victor Underwood, blocked voter rolls pursuant Boards Montgomery Jefferson Counties, respectively, they check. In determining check turpitude, relied opinions Attorney General. Underwood sued 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 1983 declaration invalidating punishable imprisonment state penitentiary (misdemeanors) injunction future application such persons. After extensive proceedings relevant here, certified plaintiff class who purged voting barred registering solely conviction defendant all members 67 Registrars. proceeded trial two causes action, claim For purposes treated appellee representative subclass class. 3 memorandum opinion, convention "the provisions [were] racism present constitutional convention." reasoned Court's decision Palmer Thompson, 403 217, 91 1940, 29 438 (1971), provision "governing exercise franchise crimes," apparently evident App. E Juris. Statement E-5, E-7. 4 On appeal, Eleventh Circuit reversed. (1984). It held proper approach discrimination established 270, n. 21, 566, 21 (1977), Mt. Healthy City Board Education Doyle, 274, 287, 568, 576, (1977): 5 "To establish violation fourteenth amendment mixed motives, plaintiffs must prove preponderance racial substantial adoption They shall then prevail unless registrars same resulted considered." F.2d, 617. 6 Following approach, first lack clearly erroneous. thoroughly reviewing evidence, factor. next competing enactment Accordingly, concluded enacted directed issue ordering appellants register so request otherwise qualify. noted probable jurisdiction, 469 878, 241, 83 180 (1984), we affirm. 7 predecessor 3, 1875, denied "convicted treason, embezzlement public funds, malfeasance office, larceny, bribery, penitentiary" right register, hold office. These offenses largely, if entirely, felonies. drafters convention, expanded list substantially include following: 8 "treason, murder, arson, embezzlement, receiving stolen property, obtaining property money false pretenses, perjury, subornation robbery, assault with rob, burglary, forgery, battery wife, bigamy, living adultery, sodomy, incest, rape, miscegenation, [and] nature." 9 retained general felony provision—"any penitentiary"—but added new catchall covering This phrase defined, subsequently interpreted Supreme mean act " 'immoral itself, regardless fact whether law. doing prohibition statute fixes, turpitude.' Pippin State, 197 Ala. 613, 616, 73 So. 340, 342 (1916) (quoting Fort Brinkley, 87 Ark. 400, 112 S.W. 1084 (1908)). 10 contain them many misdemeanors. If specific fall consult law or, precedent, General determine covered 2. Various minor nonfelony petty larceny sweep while more serious second-degree manslaughter, police officer, mailing pornography, aiding escape misdemeanant do neither nor considered Id., 620, 13. alleged, found, selected believed delegates frequently committed blacks. 11 neutral, applying equally anyone falling provisions. Appellee nonetheless claims impact. made indisputable: 12 "The registrars' expert estimated January 1903 disfranchised approximately ten times whites. disparate effect persists today. Counties even most modest estimates least 1.7 likely suffer disfranchisement commission nonprison offenses." 620. 13 So far tell contested, find record below briefs oral argument undermine Appeals. 14 Presented neutral produces disproportionate effects along lines, correct Amendment: 15 "[O]fficial will unconstitutional results Proof show Clause." U.S., 264-265, S.Ct., 563. 16 See Washington Davis, 426 229, 239, 96 2040, 2047, 48 597 (1976). Once shown "substantial" "motivating" behind law, burden shifts law's defenders demonstrate without Healthy, 576. 17 Proving official often problematic undertaking. Rogers Lodge, 458 102 3272, 1012 (1982). When move examination board county commissioners involved body size Constitutional difficulties actual motivations various legislators produced given increase. With respect Congress, said United States O'Brien, 391 367, 383-384, 88 1673, 1682-1683, 20 672 (1968) (footnote omitted): 18 "Inquiries into congressional motives hazardous matter. simply interpretation legislation, look statements guidance legislature, benefit sound decision-making circumstance thought sufficient risk possibility misreading Congress' purpose. entirely different matter when asked void is, well-settled criteria, face, basis what fewer than handful Congressmen about it. What motivates legislator make speech necessarily scores others enact it, stakes sufficiently high us eschew guesswork." 19 But sort spoke O'Brien obtain case. Although understandably "eyewitnesses" testified, testimony historians offered received objection. showed part movement swept post-Reconstruction South Hackney, Populism Progressivism 147 (1969); C. Vann Woodward, Origins New South, 1877-1913, pp. 321-322 (1971). all-white secretive John B. Knox, president stated his opening address: "And want do? Why limits imposed Constitution, white supremacy State." Official Proceedings State Alabama, May 21st, September 3rd, p. (1940). Indeed, seriously dispute zeal ran rampant convention. 22 As already noted, out animus, only set aside finding. so, clearly-erroneous standard review Rule Civil Procedure 52(a), see Pullman-Standard Swint, 456 273, 1781, 1789, 72 66 (1982), "left firm definite impression error intent." legislative available courts consisted several historical studies, historians. Having reviewed persuaded assessment. court's presents thorough analysis demonstrates conclusively little repeating factual here. At appellants' counsel essentially conceded point, stating: "I very blind naive [to] try come up stand before say 182; did play decisions people I won't that." Tr. Oral Arg. 6. 23 brief Court, maintain expert's real Southern Democrats, view, sought way stem resurgence threatened power: 24 "Q. aim prevent practically large number whites; correct? 25 "A. Yes, sir. 26 idea becoming swing thereby powerful useful some group Republicans? 27 sir, that's correct. 28 quite used to, hand limit [the] intelligent virtuous, [referred] 'corrupt ignorant,' sometimes referred ignorant vicious? That's right. 30 Was wanted lower whites? 31 correct." 32 * 33 Near end Convention, Knox he summarized work Suffrage disputed [a] Fifteenth Amendment? 34 true. Repeatedly through debates, interested disfranchising fact, go point. point am trying really speaking galleries, attempting electorate ratify constitution necessary convinced order get merely echoing great say. [I]n general, aggressively any think falsely, 35 overplay extent desire blacks? 36 Oh, absolutely, certainly." Cross-examination Dr. J. Mills Thornton, Record 73-74, 80-81. 37 Even accept explanation correct, hardly saves invalidity. concedes both whites, certainly ratified motivation. 38 Citing 224, 1944, Michael M. Superior Sonoma County, 450 464, 472, 7, 101 1200, 1205, 437 (1981) (plurality opinion), further existence namely, trumps parallel motive. Whether intentional qualify "permissible motive" meaning M., where demonstrated, supply analysis. Under view properly take additional beyond peradventure 39 Appellants contend legitimate interest denying should sustained ground. convincingly demonstrated addition "crimes turpitude" suffrage committee vagrancy, wife beating commonly blacks: 40 "Most proposals disqualified committing long Negro, lesser committed. Most contained report came ordinance Fielding Burns, Black Belt planter. listed taken cognizance years justice peace Burnsville district, nearly cases Negroes." McMillan, 1798-1901, 275, 76 (1955) (quoted appellees' expert). 41 suggested that, original events succeeding 80 legitimated provision. Some blatantly selections, struck down courts, remaining crimes—felonies misdemeanors—are acceptable bases franchise. Without deciding valid today observe motivated continues day such, equal protection Heights. Finally, authorized commit reasons stated, Amendment, single question excepted "other crime" again considering Richardson Ramirez, 418 24, 94 2655, 551 (1974), confident designed permit purposeful attending Nothing our supra, suggests contrary. judgment 43 Affirmed. 44 POWELL took consideration ** provides: following registering, voting, namely: "All idiots insane persons; reason time ratification Constitution; nature, penitentiary, infamous turpitude; also, person vagrant tramp, selling offering sell another, buying buy making return election primary procure nomination suborning witness registrar secure registration elector."

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