Source: https://ja.scribd.com/document/344748100/2017-04-10-Order-on-Discriminatory-Intent
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 02:37:34+00:00

Document:
04/10/2017 Order on Discriminatory Intent by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos in the challenge against SB 14, Texas's restrictive voter ID law.
evidence in making its determination of this issue.
Texas Senate Bill 14, Act of May 16, 2011, 82d Leg., R.S., ch. 123, 2011 Tex. Gen. Laws 619.
Veasey v. Perry, 71 F.Supp.3d 627, 633 (S.D. Tex. 2014).
Veasey II, at 241 (citing Price v. Austin Indep. Sch. Dist., 945 F.2d 1307, 1317 (5th Cir. 1991)).
at least in part. Veasey II.C. the Court heard oral argument. STANDARD OF REVIEW The rubric for the question—whether SB 14 was passed with a discriminatory purpose—was set out in the Supreme Court’s decision.E. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp.2d 1017. 252. 2017. It implies that the decisionmaker . Under Arlington Heights. 442 U. Veasey II. 963. 725 F. 960. 52 U. but to rely on the record developed at the bench trial of this case. with a discriminatory intent in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 § 2. 279 (1979) (internal citations and footnotes omitted). its adverse effects upon an identifiable group. 965. at 242. discriminatory intent is shown when racial discrimination was a motivating factor in the governing body’s decision. 1984). 256. On February 28. 962. § 10301(a).S. 966. 1022 (5th Cir. After appropriate reconsideration and review of the record. v. The Fifth Circuit instructed that this Court was not to reopen the evidence.” Personnel Adm’r of Mass. 977. at 230. Velasquez v. Discriminatory purpose “implies more than intent as volition or intent as awareness of consequences. See D. Racial discrimination need not be the primary purpose as long as it is one purpose. 980. . 429 U. 975. the Court permitted the parties to propose new findings of fact and conclusions of law and re-brief the issue. selected or reaffirmed a particular course of action at least in part ‘because of. . Village of Arlington Heights v. Veasey II.S. Consistent with those instructions. 265-68 (1977). at 242.. held in September 2014. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 2 of 10 Fifth Circuit has described. the Court holds that Plaintiffs have sustained their burden of proof to show that SB 14 was passed. . 976. 979. Feeney. and for the reasons set out below. 2 / 10 .S. .’. 961. City of Abilene.
“the burden shifts to the law’s defenders to demonstrate that the law 4 This includes the legislative drafting history. such as whether the policy justifications line up with the terms of the law or where that policy-law relationship is tenuous. and (6) Contemporaneous statements by the decisionmakers and in meeting minutes and reports. 557. which emerges from the effect of the state action even when the governing legislation appears neutral on its face.3d 420.S. Brown. 561 F. (3) The historical background of the decision. (2) Whether there is a clear pattern. See Hamdan v. the Court considers all available direct and circumstantial evidence of intent. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 3 of 10 Rather than attempt to discern the motivations of particular legislators. 433 (5th Cir. supra at 266 (paraphrased). unexplainable on grounds other than race. 548 U.” United States v.4 Arlington Heights. (4) Whether the decision departs from normal procedural practices. 579-80 (2006). (5) Whether the decision departs from normal substantive concerns of the legislature. If Plaintiffs’ evidence establishes that discriminatory purpose was at least one of the substantial or motivating factors behind passage of SB 14. The Supreme Court in Arlington Heights considered the following factors as informing the intent decision: (1) The disparate impact of the legislation. Rumsfeld. “including the normal inferences to be drawn from the foreseeability of defendant’s actions. which can offer interpretive insight when the legislative body rejected language or provisions that would have achieved the results sought in Plaintiffs’ interest. 3 / 10 .
3d 627. 2. at 651-53 & Appendix.5 the related findings in part IV(B) and conclusions in part VI(B)(1) were undisturbed on appeal and the Fifth Circuit affirmed the discriminatory result claim. Pattern Unexplainable on Non-Racial Grounds In parts IV(A)(4) and (5) of this Court’s prior opinion. 4 / 10 . For instance. Veasey v. 2014) (Veasey I). Tex. At the same time. supporting Plaintiffs’ results claim under Section 2. Veasey II. at 261. this Court adopts its prior findings and conclusions. Disparate Impact This Court found that SB 14 had a discriminatory impact. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 4 of 10 would have been enacted without this factor. which the Texas legislature rejected. there was no substance to the justifications offered for the draconian terms of SB 14. reduced costs for obtaining necessary ID. but held that anecdotal evidence of racial campaign appeals did not necessarily show that SB 14 abridged the right to vote. Supp. this Court assigns no weight to that anecdotal evidence. a more liberal policy on expired documents. Veasey I.D. 228 (1985). Plaintiffs have satisfied the disparate impact factor of the discriminatory purpose analysis. 222. amendments were proposed to allow additional types of photo identification. that would have softened the racial impact of SB 14. On remand.S. Underwood. Perry. it detailed a number of efforts. noted in part 5 The Fifth Circuit did not overturn the fact finding. Veasey II. Without setting forth the associated findings at length. 659-79 (S. With one exception. with the exception of those related to the potential effect of racial appeals in political campaigns. at 264-65. and more voter education regarding the requirements. 71 F. DISCUSSION 1. 471 U.” Hunter v. easier voter registration procedures.
in part VI(B) of the opinion. This Court then concluded. without setting forth the associated findings at length. The Court’s reference was for context only. at 236. that these efforts revealed a pattern of conduct unexplainable on non- racial grounds. For instance. at 653-59. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 5 of 10 IV(A)(6) of the opinion. Veasey II. Veasey I. Historical Background In discussing SB 14’s historical background for purposes of the discriminatory intent analysis. at 694-703. Veasey I. this Court included a prefatory sentence referencing Texas’s long history of discriminatory practices. which emerges from the effect of the state action even when the governing legislation appears neutral on its face. In connection with the discriminatory purpose analysis. and that they nonetheless passed the bill without adopting a number of proposed ameliorative measures that might have lessened this impact. and such impact was acknowledged to be “common sense” by one of the chief proponents of the legislation. Treated as only providing 5 / 10 . unexplainable on grounds other than race. the Fifth Circuit wrote. approving of this evidence: The record shows that drafters and proponents of SB 14 were aware of the likely disproportionate effect of the law on minorities. at 700. the Legislature was advised of the likely discriminatory impact by the Deputy General Counsel to the Lieutenant Governor and by many legislators. This is some evidence of a pattern. Again. to suppress minority voting. Veasey I. this Court adopts its prior findings and conclusions with respect to the pattern of conduct unexplainable on grounds other than race factor. which was set out in a separate section of the opinion. 3.
S. 2612. the Fifth Circuit held that historical evidence. Veasey I.S. ___ U. 279. at 700 (part VI(B)(2)(Historical Background)).20 (1987) and Shelby Cty. 481 U.” Veasey II. Texas “is the only state with this consistent record of objections to such statewide plans. Holder. assign distant history any weight in the discriminatory purpose analysis. Kemp. 2618-19 (2013). the same Legislature that passed SB 14 also passed two laws found to be passed with discriminatory purpose. With respect to the question at hand. Included was the contemporary seismic demographic shift by which Texas had become a majority-minority state and polarized voting patterns allowing the suppression of the overwhelmingly Democratic votes of African–Americans and Latinos to provide an Anglo partisan advantage. Texas attempted to suppress minority voting through purging the voter rolls. It is notable as well that “[i]n every redistricting cycle since 1970. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 6 of 10 perspective. while Texas was covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. ___. after its former poll tax and re-registration requirements were ruled unconstitutional. 133 S. The Fifth Circuit found no fault with this evidence and this Court adopts these findings anew. [A]s late as 1975. to be relevant.Ct.” Furthermore. the Court did not. and does not. 298 n. v. The Fifth Circuit also credited other historical events from the 1970s forward. The evidence upon which the Court previously relied dated from 2000 forward. record evidence establishes that the Department of Justice objected to at least one of Texas’s statewide redistricting plans for each period between 1980 and the present. must be “reasonably contemporaneous. Texas has been found to have violated the [Voting Rights Act] with racially gerrymandered districts. 6 / 10 . at 232 (citing McCleskey v.” Finally.
The Court finds that reasonably contemporaneous history supports a discriminatory purpose finding. consistent with efforts of other states. Departures From Normal Practices In part IV(A) of its prior opinion. 4. While this Court now also credits this evidence. Without setting forth the associated findings at length. and substantive consideration of amendments. As previously demonstrated. yielded only 7 / 10 . in re-weighing this issue. at 238. The Fifth Circuit agreed that the Court can credit these “virtually unprecedented” radical departures from normal practices. 5. the weight assigned to it is not outcome-determinative here. at 239-40 (citations and footnotes omitted). this Court adopts its prior findings and conclusions with respect to the factor addressing departures from normal practices. at 645-53. the only concern addressed by SB 14. Veasey I. the Court confirms that it does not rely on the evidence of Waller County officials’ efforts to suppress minority votes and the redistricting cases for the discriminatory purpose analysis. Consistent with the Fifth Circuit opinion. debate. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 7 of 10 Veasey II. this Court detailed the extraordinary procedural tactics used to rush SB 14 through the legislative process without the usual committee analysis. Legislative Drafting History Proponents touted SB 14 as a remedy for voter fraud. the evidence shows a tenuous relationship between those rationales and the actual terms of the bill. The Court recognizes that the Fifth Circuit credits this evidence in the discriminatory purpose calculus whereas this Court had not previously done so. “[T]he evidence before the Legislature was that in-person voting. Veasey II.
Also evidencing the disconnect between the legislature’s stated purposes and the terms of SB 14 were the constantly shifting rationales. which is much more vulnerable to fraud. Veasey I. at 649 (part IV(A)(2)(Questionable Fiscal Note)). Veasey I. See generally. at 240. SB 14 was pushed through in a manner contrary to the legislature’s stated prohibition against bills accompanied by a fiscal note. And other pressing problems facing the legislature did not get the 8 / 10 . Fewer exceptions were made available. The period of time for which IDs could be expired was shorter in SB 14. This was due to a $27 million budget shortfall—a crisis the legislature needed to address.” Veasey II. Impact Study. And the burdens imposed for taking advantage of an exception were heavier with SB 14. and Emergency)). The evidentiary support for SB 14 offered at trial was no better. Veasey I. at 642-45. These and other similar issues were detailed by this Court in parts III(B) and IV(A)(4) of its previous opinion. 653- 55. at 653-59. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 8 of 10 two convictions for in-person voter impersonation fraud out of 20 million votes cast in the decade leading up to SB 14’s passage. And the bill did nothing to address mail-in balloting. 651-52 & Appendix. Furthermore. The State did not demonstrate that these features of SB 14 were necessarily consistent with its alleged interest in preventing voter fraud or increasing confidence in the electoral system. Veasey I. 651 (part IV(A)(3)(Fiscal Note. revealed as pretext and detailed at part IV(A)(6) of the opinion. SB 14 added $2 million to the budget shortfall. Many categories of acceptable photo IDs permitted by other states were omitted from the Texas bill. along with the Appendix. at 641. the terms of the bill were unduly strict.
The Fifth Circuit approved of the consideration of the tenuousness of the relationship between the legislature’s policies and SB 14’s terms. Veasey II. at 701-02. CONCLUSION Because the Fifth Circuit found that some of the evidence in this case was not probative of a discriminatory purpose in the Texas Legislature’s enactment of SB 14. it did accomplish that which it was not supposed to do. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 9 of 10 procedural push that SB 14 received. at 237-41. Veasey I. While crediting this evidence. The Court thus adopts its previous findings and conclusions with respect to the legislative drafting history. So not only did SB 14 not accomplish what it was supposed to. except for Senator Fraser. And the Court is permitted to credit evidence of pretext. stating that the Voting Rights Act had outlived its useful life and the fact that the legislature failed to adopt ameliorative measures without explanation. Contemporaneous statements In part VI(B)(2)(Contemporaneous Statements). It also found the fiscal note issue relevant. an author of SB 14. Veasey II. this 9 / 10 . Thus this Court assigns no weight to the evidence previously discussed. at 233-34. See Veasey II. The Fifth Circuit found much of this undisputed and unchallenged evidence to be infirm as speculative. not statistically significant. Veasey I. at 236-37 (approving of the consideration of this evidence). which was shown to be out of character with sponsors of major bills. the Court assigns it little weight. at 702. 6. this Court discussed the evidence offered regarding legislator observations of the political and legislative environment at the time SB 14 was passed. or not probative of legislator sentiment.
Upon reconsideration and a re-weighing of the evidence in conformity with the Fifth Circuit’s opinion. Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 1023 Filed in TXSD on 04/10/17 Page 10 of 10 Court was tasked with re-examining its conclusion on the discriminatory purpose issue. 471 U. this Court holds. the burden shifted to the State to demonstrate that the law would have been enacted without its discriminatory purpose. that SB 14 was passed with a discriminatory purpose in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Consequently. ORDERED this 10th day of April. ___________________________________ NELVA GONZALES RAMOS UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 10 / 10 . the Court holds that the evidence found “infirm” did not tip the scales. Plaintiffs’ probative evidence—that which was left intact after the Fifth Circuit’s review—establishes that a discriminatory purpose was at least one of the substantial or motivating factors behind passage of SB 14. 2017.S. Hunter. The State has not met its burden. Therefore. at 228. again.

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