Document: 362 U.S. 17 80 S.Ct. 519 4 L.Ed.2d 524 UNITED STATES, Appellant,v.James Griggs RAINES et al. No. 64. Argued Jan. 12, 1960. Decided Feb. 29, [Syllabus from pages 17-18 intentionally omitted] Attorney General William P. Rogers, Washington, D.C., for appellant. Mr. Charles J. Bloch, Macon, Ga., the appellees. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion of Court. 1 The United States brought this action in District Court Middle Georgia against members Board Registrars and certain Deputy Terrell County, Georgia. Its complaint charged that defendants had through various devices, administration their offices, discriminated on racial grounds Negroes who desired to register vote elections conducted State. sought an injunction continuation these discriminatory practices, other relief. 2 was founded upon R.S. § 2004, as amended by 131 Civil Rights Act 1957, 71 Stat. 637, 42 U.S.C. 1971, U.S.C.A. 1971. Subsections (a) (c), which are directly involved, provide:1 3 '(a) All citizens otherwise qualified law at any election people State, Territory, district, county, city, parish, township, school municipality, or territorial subdivision, shall be entitled allowed all such elections, without distinction race, color, previous condition servitude; constitution, law, custom, usage, regulation State under its authority, contrary notwithstanding. '(c) Whenever person has engaged there reasonable believe is about engage act practice would deprive right privilege secured subsection * *, may institute States, name a civil proper proceeding preventive relief, including application permanent temporary injunction, restraining order, order. *' 5 On defendants' motion, dismissed complaint, holding (c) unconstitutional. 172 F.Supp. 552. court held statutory language quoted enjoin purely private designed account race color. Although question involved only official action, ruled since, opinion, statute face susceptible beyond scope permissible Fifteenth Amendment, it considered unconstitutional applications. Government appealed we postponed jurisdiction hearing case merits. 360 926, 79 1448, 1541. Under terms 28 1252, properly here appeal since basis decision below fact Congress unconstitutional, no matter what contentions parties might should have been. 6 very foundation power federal courts declare Acts lies duty those decide cases controversies before them. This made patent first exercising power—'the gravest most delicate called perform.'2 Marbury v. Madison, Cranch 137, 177— 180, L.Ed. 60. Court, with courts, 'has pronounce statute, either state void, because irreconcilable except adjudge legal rights litigants actual controversies. In exercise jurisdiction, bound two rules, rigidly adhered: one, never anticipate constitutional advance necessity deciding it; other, formulate rule broader than required precise facts applied.' Liverpool, New York & Philadelphia S.S. Co. Commissioners Emigration, 113 33, 39, 352, 355, 899. Kindred rules one whom will not heard attack ground impliedly also taken applying persons situations Wurzbach, 280 396, 50 167, 74 508; Heald Columbia, 259 114, 123, 434, 435, 66 852; Yazoo Mississippi Valley R. .jackson Vinegar Co., 226 217, 33 40, 57 193; Collins Texas, 223 288, 295—296, 32 286, 56 439; People ex rel. Hatch Reardon, 204 152, 160—161, 27 188, 190—191, 51 415. Cf. Voeller Neilston Warehouse 311 531, 537, 61 376, 379, 85 322; Carmichael Southern Coal Coke 301 495, 513, 868, 874, 81 1245; Virginian System Federation, 300 515, 558, 592, 605, 789; Blackmer 284 421, 442, 52 252, 257, 76 375; Roberts Schaefer Emmerson, 271 50, 54 55, 46 375, 376—377, 70 827; Jeffrey Mfg. Blagg, 235 571, 576, 35 169, 59 364; Tyler Judges Registration, 179 405, 21 206, 45 252; Ashwander Tennessee Authority, 297 347—348, 466, 483—484, 688 (concurring opinion). Barrows Jackson, 346 249, 73 1031, 97 1586, developed reasons rule. Very significant incontrovertible proposition 'would indeed undesirable consider every conceivable situation possibly arise complex comprehensive legislation.' Id., page 256, 1035. pronouncing exercised reference hypothetical thus imagined. further pointed limiting construction could given responsible if doubtful constitutionality were concretely presented. We add frees unnecessary pronouncement issues, but premature interpretations statutes areas where cloudy. 7 relied on, appellees urge here, said inconsistent closely related corollary litigant assert his own immunities. many applications, principles ordained Constitution, constitute rather 'rule(s) practice,' supra, 1035, albeit weighty ones; hence some exceptions them weightly countervailing policies been recognized. For example, where, result litigation question, party impaired, he effective way preserve himself, it. N.A.A.C.P. Alabama, 357 449, 459—460, 78 1163, 1170—1171, 1488; supra. indicated itself inhibitory effect freedom speech, they applied. See Smith California, 361 147, 151, 215, 205; Thornhill 310 88, 97—98, 60 736, 741—742, 84 1093. Perhaps can put criminal necessitate revision text create longer gave intelligible warning conduct prohibited. Reese, 92 214, 219—220, 23 563; cf. Winters York, 333 507, 518—520, 68 665, 671—672, 840. And rules' rationale disappear already declared vast majority intended fairly stand valid, fortuitous circumstances, fraction originally cover. Butts Merchants Miners Transportation 230 126, 964, 1422. same presented when comes conclusively pronounced having valid provision inextricably tied up invalid see Dorchy Kansas, 264 290, 44 323, 325, 686;3 rarest justifiably think able confidently discern legislation unless validly application. Trade-Mark Cases, 100 82, 25 550; Employers' Liability 207 463, 501, 141, 146, 297. But none considerations suggested examples, consideration, warranting Court's considering applications it.4 typical discussed. 8 There are, sure, applied perfect consistency avoiding determinations,5 do mean say cited turn exception stated, perfectly justified primarily As indicated, drawn support assumption passed statute's validity toto left standing incapable giving fair prohibitions. extent Reese did depend approach better established weightiest subsequent cases, cannot follow here. 9 Accordingly, clearly end constitutionality. whatever precisely reach enough charged—discrimination officials, within course duties, voting citizens, color—is certainly, 'state action' clearest form it, subject ban deal discrimination 'appropriate legislation' It makes difference violative law. Snowden Hughes, 321 1, 11, 64 397, 403, 88 497. contend provided (d) Courts 'without regard whether aggrieved exhausted administrative remedies law,' appellees' ascribed argument ultimate voice spoken, higher echelons authority revise action. is, however, fundamental official, high low, Fourteenth Amendments. Cooper Aaron, 358 16—19, 1401, 1408—1410, 5. clear follows provide correction violations presence actions. draw expressions Barney City 193 430, 24 502, 48 737, so much rely.6 'so restricted our later decisions,' 13, must regarded 'been worn away erosion time,' Tigner 879, 882, 1124, authority. Raymond Chicago Union Traction 20, 37, 7, 78; Home Telephone Telegraph Los Angeles, 227 278, 283—289, 294, 312, 313—315, 317, 510; Iowa-Des Moines Nat. Bank Bennett, 239, 247, 133, 136, 265; supra; Screws 325 91, 107—113, 116, 65 1038—1041, 1043, 89 1495. Classic, 313 299, 326, 1368. Barney's doctrine 284, 314, Chief White: '(its) enforcement render impossible performance Federal Constitution.' seems us recognized violation Amendment applicable class unquestionably Amendment. then gone upheld present dismissal error. 10 alternative seek judgment dismissing complaint.7 well taken. urged authorize bring rights. highest public interest due observance guarantees, bear rights, competent guardian suit injunctive Steelworkers America 43, 4, cited. Appellees raise equitable discretion reserved suits 2004. 41—42, 3—4. need define proceedings nature, because, traditional equity discretion, declined dismiss ground, posture contention abused discretion. Questions relief posed, remedial issues hardly stage litigation. 11 discussion concerning apply, Fifteen compound error found intimating views matter. 12 Reversed. 13 FRANKFURTER, HARLAN concurs, joining judgment. 14 presumptive like enactment Congress, overborne claim To find unconstitutionality reverse apply save Here measure sustained familiar Nor procedural hurdle cleared sustain States. Whatever original force long ceased obstruction, nor case. I needless canvass multitude opinions generally touch govern, now us. Subsection Enforcement May 31, 1870, c. 16 140, forward remaining subsections added 1957 legislation. (b) forbids forms intimidation coercion respect elective officers, provisions likewise Holmes, J., Blodgett Holden, 275 142, 148, 276 594, 105, 107, 72 206. Mountain Timber 243 219, 234, 37 260, 263, 685. State's determination invoke protection Constitution conclusive Tileston Ullman, 318 44, 63 493, 87 603. Certainly sort proceeded reachable (see 25—26 U.S., 524—526 infra), small inessential part evil concerned permitted make generally. innumerable items legislative history show Congress' particular concern See, e.g., Hearings Subcommittee Constitutional Committee Judiciary, Senate, Proposals Secure, Protect, Strengthen Persons Laws 85th Cong., 1st Sess., pp. 4—7, 36—37, 77, 81, 189, 205, 293, 300; House Representatives, Miscellaneous Bills Regarding Jurisdiction 656, 1220; 103 Cong.Rec. 8705, 12149, 12898, 13126, 13732. serious enactment, fail give adequate notice proscribed, even deemed Criminal order embracing charged. Cf., Illinois Central McKendree, 203 514, 153, 298; Ju Toy, 198 253, 262—263, 644, 646—647, 49 1040. property owner's officials rapid transit tunnel place. court, averred proposed authorized does appear complainant alleged indisposed halt unauthorized actions offered remedy owner threatened intereference acting specific expressly authorizing judicial intervention matters posture. Many raised style 'cross-appeal.' Notice cross-appeal filed docketed However, awarded requested (despite rejecting contentions, contral one), necessary otherwise. They simply supported. view broad nature indicate desire whole come (contrast 18 3731, Borden 308 193, 182, 186, 181), pass questions, expressed them, deem appropriate so.

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