Source: http://supreme.nolo.com/us/379/621/case.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 23:58:19+00:00

Document:
After holding the Georgia Legislature to be malapportioned, the District Court enjoined appellant election officials from placing on the 1964 ballot or subsequent ballots, until the General Assembly is properly apportioned, the question of adopting a new state constitution. Appellees suggested that the issue was moot.
Held: This part of the decree is vacated and remanded to the District Court to consider the present need for the injunction.
Decree vacated in part and remanded.
new constitution therefor shall be adopted. *"
Appellants challenge that provision on the merits. Appellees, while defending it on the merits, suggest alternatively that the issue has become moot.
The situation has changed somewhat since the 1964 election, as both the Senate and the House have new members, and appellees, for whose benefit the challenged provision was added, say it is now highly speculative as to what the 1965 legislature will do, and suggest the paragraph in question be vacated as moot.
We vacate this part of the decree and remand to the District Court, to whom we give a wide range in moulding a decree (United States v. Crescent Amusement Co., 323 U. S. 173, 323 U. S. 185; International Boxing Club of New York v. United States, 358 U. S. 242, 358 U. S. 253), for reconsideration of the desirability and need for the ongoing injunction in light of the results of the 1964 election and the representations of appellees.
"The defendants are hereby enjoined from placing on the ballot to be used in the General Election to be held on November 3, 1964, or at any subsequent election until the General Assembly is reapportioned in accordance with constitutional standards, the question whether a constitutional amendment purporting to amend the present state constitution by substituting an entirely new constitution therefor shall be adopted; provided, however, nothing in this order shall prevent the submission of amendments to the Constitution of the State of Georgia which are separate as to subject matter, in accordance with Article XIII, Section I, Article 1, of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, 1945. (See Hammond v. Clarke, 136 Ga. 313, for a discussion by the Georgia Supreme Court of what constitutes separate amendments). Nor shall anything in this order prevent the calling by the General Assembly of a 'convention of the people to revise, amend or change the constitution' if the representation 'in the convention is based on population as near as practicable' with the members being elected by the people (see Article XIII, Section I, Article 2). Constitution of the State of Georgia, 1945."
Although I would prefer to declare this litigation moot and vacate the judgment below, I am joining the opinion and judgment of the Court solely on the basis that it is not reaching the merits regarding the propriety of the order fashioned by the three-judge District Court. In my view, the Court is simply vacating and remanding in order to give the District Court an opportunity to reconsider its order in light of the change in circumstances which has occurred since judgment was entered.
MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, with whom MR. JUSTICE STEWART joins, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
This is the first time that the Court, after plenary briefing and argument, has been called on to consider the propriety of interim arrangements prescribed by a district court pending the effectuation of its decision requiring reapportionment of a branch of a state legislature.
This appeal draws in question the validity of items (2) and (3) above, similarly numbered in the District Court's order. It is contended by the appellees, however, that both these issues have now become moot.
The Court's disposition of this case, of course, involves a holding that at least as to item (2), the case is not moot. For, contrary to what my Brother GOLDBERG says in his dissenting opinion (post, pp. 379 U. S. 636-638) and as my Brother CLARK seems to recognize (ante), the Court does not remand the case to the District Court for a determination on the issue of mootness, but only to decide whether any injunctive relief is now appropriate in light of what has transpired since such relief was first granted.
While it may be that the Court's implicit holding on mootness does not reach beyond the portion of the District Court's decree that goes to the submission of a proposed new state constitution (par. (2) of the decree), I would also hold not moot the pronouncement of that decree placing limitations on the functioning of the 1965 State Legislature (original par. (3) of the decree).
have granted any relief on this score. [Footnote 2] So far as original paragraph (3) of the decree is concerned (limiting the activities of the 1965 legislature), it was not rendered moot by the District Court's modification after the case had been taken for review by this Court. Analytically, the situation is tantamount to a confession of error at this level at most relieving this Court of the necessity of making a definitive exposition of its views on this subject (compare the suggestion of my Brother GOLDBERG, post, pp. 379 U. S. 638-639), but not depriving the question of the attribute of justiciability. Cf. Young v. United States, 315 U. S. 257, 315 U. S. 258-259.
legislative government. Paragraphs (2) and (3) of the injunction involved in this case do range that far afield. Absent disapproval by this Court, the decision below, rendered by a distinguished panel, cannot fail to furnish a strong practical, if not legal, precedent for other district courts. I do not think this should be allowed to happen.
I would hold the decree below improvident in both the aspects before us.
Similarly, as to the provision of the lower court's original decree limiting the functions of the 1965 legislature, it seems scarcely open to serious doubt that, so long as the federal courts allow this Georgia Legislature to sit, it must be regarded as the de facto legislature of the State, possessing the full panoply of legislative powers accorded by Georgia law.
I would modify the decree below by striking therefrom paragraph (2) and approving the substitute for original paragraph (3) as framed by the District Court.
The full text of the District Court's order and the amendment of item 3 are printed in the dissenting opinion of MR. JUSTICE GOLDBERG as Appendices A and B, respectively. Post, pp. 379 U. S. 639, 379 U. S. 641.
See Labor Board v. Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines, Inc., 303 U. S. 261, 303 U. S. 271; Southern Pac. Terminal Co. v. Interstate Commerce Comm'n, 219 U. S. 498, 219 U. S. 514-515.
If, as I believe, a State is not federally restricted in its choice of means for initiating constitutional change, the question of whether, under Georgia law, the proposed new Georgia Constitution should have been initiated by a popularly elected convention, instead of by the legislature, is not a matter for federal cognizance.
To hold as I think the Court should on these issues would not in any way impair the federal courts' ability to prevent frustration of their reapportionment decrees.
appeal to this Court. Surely both the District Court and this Court have enough to do without this Court's creating unnecessary work for both. I would simply vacate the injunction order and dismiss this appeal as moot.
That this case is in fact moot becomes apparent from a consideration of the history of this litigation.
Appellants appealed to this Court. In their jurisdictional statement, they did not contest the basic holding that the House of Representatives was unconstitutionally apportioned. They challenged the validity of portions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of the District Court's order. [Footnote 2/3] Appellees moved to affirm on the ground that the order was in all respects valid. We noted probable jurisdiction, 379 U.S. 809, and granted appellants' motion to advance the cause for oral argument.
Shortly prior to argument, appellees moved that this appeal be dismissed because events supervening since the entry of the District Court's order rendered this appeal moot. Appellants opposed this motion. Consideration of appellees' motion to dismiss was postponed until the hearing.
apportioned legislature from proposing and submitting to the voters a wholly new state constitution.
"this appeal presents only an abstract, hypothetical controversy in which the 'lively conflict between antagonistic demands, actively pressed, which make resolution of the controverted issue a practical necessity' is lacking. [Footnote 2/6]"
resist the motion to dismiss on grounds of mootness. They contend that this Court should reach the merits and reverse the basic determination of the District Court that, under the Federal Constitution, a malapportioned legislature is without power to propose a new constitution to the voters. [Footnote 2/7] They argue that a decision on the merits is called for, because the issuance of the prior opinion of the District Court granting the injunction will have a precedential and deterrent effect, notwithstanding the vacation of the injunction order.
claiming an abridgment of their constitutional rights, [Footnote 2/8] it should not, in apportionment cases, as in other areas, decide moot issues, volunteer judgments, or seek out questions which have ceased to be ripe for adjudication [Footnote 2/9] and are no longer presented in the context of an actual pending controversy. [Footnote 2/10] I strongly, albeit respectfully, disagree with my Brother HARLAN's intimation, grounded on his basic view that the Court should never have entered into reapportionment matters at all, that, now that it has been decided that such issues are justiciable, this Court should be more willing in this "sensitive" area than in other areas to give opinions of an advisory nature, so that "the lower courts [will] at least be launched in the right general direction and not allowed to range so far afield." Opinion of MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, ante, p. 379 U. S. 625. Moreover, it has already been demonstrated, as was easily predictable from the history of other constitutional issues of a "sensitive" nature, that there is in this area ample opportunity to guide the lower courts within the traditional bounds of concrete, live controversies, actively pressed by real adverse parties. See Fortson v. Dorsey, ante, p. 379 U. S. 433; Scranton v. Drew, ante, p. 379 U. S. 40.
upon future actions in similar circumstances. Little v. Bowers, 134 U. S. 547, 134 U. S. 558; California v. San Pablo & T. R. Co., 149 U. S. 308, 149 U. S. 314; Kimball v. Kimball, 174 U. S. 158. In the present case, we are told by the proponents of the injunction that there exists only a remote possibility that the newly elected legislature or some future one will submit a wholly new constitution to the voters. Cf. Bus Employees v. Missouri, 374 U. S. 74, 374 U. S. 78. If the question of the legislature's power to propose such a constitution were being submitted to a court as an initial matter, the speculativeness of the legislature's future conduct would undoubtedly render this issue unripe for adjudication. See New Jersey v. Sargent, 269 U. S. 328; Arizona v. California, 283 U. S. 423; Electric Bond & Share Co. v. SEC, 303 U. S. 419, 303 U. S. 443; Alabama State Federation of Labor v. McAdory, 325 U. S. 450, 325 U. S. 471; United States v. Harriss, 347 U. S. 612. The speculativeness which has arisen in this case since the order was entered makes the issue in this appeal, in my view, similarly unsuitable for adjudication. United States v. Alaska S.S. Co., 253 U. S. 113.
Mining Co. v. Amador Medean Gold Mining Co., 145 U. S. 300.
"However convenient it might be to have decided the question of the power of the Commission to require the carriers to comply with an order prescribing bills of lading, this court"
"is not empowered to decide moot questions or abstract propositions, or to declare, for the government of future cases, principles or rules of law which cannot affect the result as to the thing in issue in the case before it."
"with directions to dismiss the petition . . . without prejudice to the right of the complainants to assail in the future any order of the Commission prescribing bills of lading after the enactment of the new legislation."
Id. at 253 U. S. 116-117. Unless Alaska %.s.s. c/o., is to be overruled or ignored, the Court should act similarly here.
its injunction under the present facts. Of course, if circumstances changed, and there was a real, rather than a tenuous threat of further legislative action of the type originally complained of, the District Court, which has retained jurisdiction of this case, would be empowered to entertain an application for appropriate injunctive relief. However, I cannot understand the logic of the Court's decision in asking the District Court now to make a determination which, under the present circumstances, is rightfully our responsibility.
"the Court does not remand the case to the District Court for a determination on the issue of mootness, but only to decide whether any injunctive relief is now appropriate in light of what has transpired since such relief was first granted."
"this appeal presents only an abstract, hypothetical controversy in which the 'lively conflict between antagonistic demands, actively pressed, which makes resolution of the controverted issue a practical necessity' is lacking."
The question is one for this Court to decide.
ought also to vacate paragraph (3) of the June 30, 1964, order on the assumption that the District Court will reenter its modified order of November 3, 1964, in accordance with the agreement of the parties.
The federal district courts have enough to do in deciding ripe reapportionment cases without our requiring them to decide stale ones.
See, e.g., San Mateo County v. Southern Pac. R. Co., 116 U. S. 138; United States v. Alaska S.S. Co., 253 U. S. 113; Bus Employees v. Wisconsin Board, 340 U. S. 416; Oil Workers Unions v. Missouri, 361 U. S. 363, and the numerous cases cited at 361 U. S. 368, n. 7 therein.
The District Court's order of June 30, 1964, is printed as Appendix A.
Appellants interpreted paragraph (3) of the order to mean that the 1965 legislature could only deal with what was legally considered to be "legislation." They feared that the legislature would be unable to conduct investigations, vote pardons, or perform other similar duties. They also were concerned that, under the terms of the District Court's order, the 1965 legislature might be unable to meet in special session if such a session proved necessary.
This order is printed here as Appendix B.
Appellees pointed out at the argument that, in the new legislature which will meet in 1965, 20 of the 54 Senators and 67 of the 205 Representatives will have been newly elected at the November, 1964, election.
"Before the proposed new constitution can be placed on the ballot for ratification in any future general election, it must again be submitted to the General Assembly and passed by an affirmative two-thirds vote of both houses. This Court has repeatedly admonished that 'constitutional questions are not to be dealt with abstractly.' The mere possibility that a similar constitutional proposal may be passed by the General Assembly at some future time is an insufficient basis for invoking the awesome responsibility of constitutional adjudication by this Court. Without further legislative action, this appeal presents only an abstract, hypothetical controversy in which the 'lively conflict between antagonistic demands, actively pressed, which make resolution of the controverted issue a practical necessity' is lacking."
This portion of the District Court's order also rested upon a determination that under Georgia law the legislature could not submit to the voters a wholly new constitution in the form of an amendment to the existing constitution. Questions are raised as to the correctness of this determination and the propriety of the District Court's having made it. See Louisiana Power & Light Co. v. City of Thibodaux, 360 U. S. 25. In light of my resolution of this case, I would not reach these questions.
See Baker v. Carr, 369 U. S. 186; Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U. S. 533, and companion cases.
See United States v. Alaska S.S. Co., 253 U. S. 113.
See San Mateo County v. Southern Pac. R. Co., 116 U. S. 138; Mills v. Green, 159 U. S. 651; Jones v. Montague, 194 U. S. 147; Harris v. Battle, 348 U.S. 803.
Since their motion to dismiss was reserved until the hearing, appellees have conscientiously argued the merits. However, we cannot ignore the basic fact that they are not pressing for a decision on the merits, since they believe they no longer need the protection of the injunction.
That appellants' argument does not show that this Court should reach the merits here is further demonstrated by the fact that any inhibitory effect produced by the District Court's injunction at issue here would also be produced by that part of the injunction prohibiting submission of a new constitution only at the 1964 election. Yet appellants concede, as they must, that this Court would not now review that part of the injunction concerned only with the November, 1964, election, which has already taken place, since the new constitution was not submitted to the voters in November, 1964, and, under Georgia law, it has lapsed, and cannot be resubmitted. See Mills v. Green, supra.
Southern Pacific Terminal Co. v. ICC, 219 U. S. 498; Federal Trade Comm'n v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 304 U. S. 257; J. I. Case Co. v. Labor Board, 321 U. S. 332.
(1) Article III, Section III, Paragraph I (Code Section 2-1501) of the Constitution of Georgia of 1945, is hereby declared to be null, void and inoperative, as being in conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Section 47-101 of the Code of Georgia, as amended, is hereby declared to be prospectively null, void and inoperative, as being in conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, for elections to the House of Representatives after the General Election to be held in November of 1964.
constitution therefor shall be adopted; provided, however, nothing in this order shall prevent the submission of amendments to the Constitution of the State of Georgia which are separate as to subject matter, in accordance with Article XIII, Section I, Article 1, of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, 1945. (See Hammond v. Clarke, 136 Ga. 313, for a discussion by the Georgia Supreme Court of what constitutes separate amendments). Nor shall anything in this order prevent the calling by the General Assembly of a "convention of the people to revise, amend or change the constitution" if the representation "in the convention is based on population as near as practicable" with the members being elected by the people (see Article XIII, Section I, Article 2). Constitution of the State of Georgia, 1945.
(3) The motion of the plaintiffs for further injunctive relief prior to the conduct of the party primaries or conventions and the General Election of November 3, 1964, is hereby denied at this time, provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in Article III, Section IV, Paragraph I (Code Section 2-1601) of the Constitution of Georgia of 1945 to the contrary, the service of the members of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia to be elected at the General Election in November, 1964, shall be limited to the enactment of such legislation as shall properly come before the said Legislature during the regular 1965 45-day session, as provided in the Georgia Constitution, including such legislation as may be necessary for the General Assembly to be reapportioned in accordance with constitutional requirements and as may be necessary to permit the holding of elections to the newly constituted General Assembly, said elections to be held at such times as may be necessary to permit the Members of such General Assembly to take office as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the second Monday in January, 1966.
"(3) The motion of the plaintiffs for further injunctive relief prior to the conduct of the party primaries or conventions and the General Election of November 3, 1964, is hereby denied at this time, provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in Article III, Section IV, Paragraph I (Code Section 2-1601) of the Constitution of Georgia of 1945 to the contrary, the service of the members of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia to be elected at the General Election in November, 1964, shall be limited to a term of one year's duration, and provided further that the plaintiffs shall have the right to reapply to this Court for further relief should the General Assembly, which convenes in January, 1965, fail to enact, during the regular 1965 45-day session, as provided in the Georgia Constitution, such legislation as may be necessary for the General Assembly to be reapportioned in accordance with Constitutional requirements and as may be necessary to permit the holding of elections to the newly constituted General Assembly during the calendar year 1965, which elections are to be held at such time as may be necessary to permit the members of such newly constituted General Assembly to take office no later than the second Monday in January, 1966. To the extent that state statutory and constitutional provisions might otherwise conflict with such legislative reapportionment, they are hereby declared to be void and of no effect."
This 3rd day of November, 1964.

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