Legal Document

515 U.S. 737115 S.Ct. 2431132 L.Ed.2d 635 UNITED STATES, Appellant,v.Ray HAYS et al. LOUISIANA, al., Appellants, v. Ray Nos. 94-558, 94-627. Supreme Court of the United States Argued April 19, 1995. Decided June 29, Syllabus * Appellees claim in this litigation that Louisiana's congressional redistricting plan (Act 1) is a racial gerrymander violates Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. While their claim's primary focus District 4, majority-minority district, appellees live 5. The invalidated Act 1, and State States, which had precleared 1 pursuant to its authority under Voting Rights 1965, appealed directly Court. Held: lack standing challenge 1. This has recognized generalized grievance against allegedly illegal governmental conduct insufficient provide standing, see, e.g., Valley Forge Christian College Americans for Separation Church State, Inc., 454 464, 102 752, 70 700, applied rule equal protection context, see Allen Wright, 468 737, 755, 104 3315, 3326-3327, 82 556. Thus, appellees' position "anybody State" can state rejected, they must show they, personally, have been subjected classification. Appellees, however, pointed no evidence tending suffered personal injury, review record revealed none. Assuming arguendo here sufficient Shaw Reno, 509 ----, 113 2816, 125 511, with respect it does not prove Legislature intended 5 particular composition. Similarly, fact affects all Louisiana voters by classifying each them as member district mean every voter Court's holding Powers Ohio, 499 400, 111 1364, 411, an individual right be excluded from jury on account race support position. A juror so personally race-based harm Powers, injury failed establish here. Pp. ____. 862 F.Supp. 119 (WD La.1994), vacated remanded. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., SCALIA, KENNEDY, SOUTER, THOMAS, BREYER, JJ., joined. filed concurring opinion, STEVENS, judgment. GINSBURG, concurred Drew S. Says, III, appellant No. 94-558. Richard P. Ieyoub, appellants Edward W. Warren appellees. Justice O'CONNOR We held 511 (1993), plaintiff may relief Clause Amendment alleging "adopted reapportionment scheme irrational face understood only effort segregate into separate voting districts because race, separation lacks justification." Id., at S.Ct., 2832. Hays, Adams, Susan Singleton, Gary Stokley districting such "racial gerrymander," Amendment. But do gerrymandering claim, otherwise demonstrated For reason, we conclude bring lawsuit. 2 covered § 4(b) 79 Stat. 438, amended, 84 315, 42 U.S.C. 1973b(b) (VRA), since November 1964, 28 CFR pt. 51, App. effect coverage set forth VRA 5, 1973c: whenever jurisdiction "shall enact or seek administer any qualification prerequisite voting, standard, practice, procedure different force 1964," first either obtain declaratory judgment Columbia change "does purpose will denying abridging vote color," receive "preclearance" Attorney General same effect. Any subject these requirements. 3 Accordingly, 1991, submitted preclearance Board Elementary Secondary Education (BESE). BESE historically paralleled districts, contained one (that is, "in majority population specific minority group," Voinovich Quilter, 507 1149, 1151, 122 500 (1993)) out eight, did then force.* refused preclear plan, claiming demonstrate decision create second was free racially discriminatory purpose. See Defense Exh. 17 92-1522 La.) (letter Dept. Justice, Assistant John Dunne, Angie R. LaPlace, Oct. 1991). subsequently revised two districts. Brief Appellants 3, n. 2. 4 As result 1990 census, delegation reduced eight seven representatives, requiring redraw boundaries. Perhaps part recent experience containing See, Tr. 11 (Aug. 1993). 1992 Regular Session, passed May 1992, plan. One 42's 2, located New Orleans area resembled previous map. other, "[a] Z-shaped creature" "zigzag[ged] through parishes five largest cities." Congressional Quarterly, Districts 1990s, 323 (1993). map attached Appendix A. 42. are residents Lincoln Parish, north-central Louisiana. According complaint, but Singleton reside Parish Pet. Permanent Injunction Declaratory Judgment CV La.), p. 4. In August suit court, challenging federal Constitutions, well VRA. removed case Western Louisiana, and, required VRA, three-judge court convened hear 2284. After two-day trial, denied request preliminary injunction, constitutional claims, took claims advisement. pending, decided whereupon revoked prior rulings another hearing. Focusing almost exclusively oddly-shaped violated Constitution, enjoined enforcement. Hays 839 1188 La.1993) (Hays I ). 6 defendant-intervenor, 1253. appeal repealed enacted new 1994 Second Extraordinary Session. remanded "for further consideration light 1." 512 114 2731, 129 853 (1994). B. 7 like 42, contains (District 2) again area. considerably ran zigzag fashion along northern eastern borders 1's begins northwestern runs southeast Red River until reaches Baton Rouge. present purposes, most significant difference between maps while entirely 8 On remand, allowed amend complaint constitutionality. It hearing concluded, largely reasons unconstitutional. La.1994) II conducting elections substituted own State's motion stay pending appeal. 9 stayed judgment, 115 687, 130 595 (1994), noted probable jurisdiction, 513 597 10 concluded I, F.Supp., 1192, reconsider when faced question waiver, however: "we address issue even if courts below it, parties fail raise before us. independent obligation examine 'is perhaps important [the jurisdictional] doctrines.' " FW/PBS, Inc. Dallas, 493 215, 230-231, 110 596, 607-608, 107 603 (1990) (citations omitted). now settled "the irreducible constitu- tional minimum three elements. First, 'injury fact'—an invasion legally protected interest (a) concrete particularized, (b) actual imminent, conjectural hypothetical. Second, there causal connection complained of. . Third, likely, opposed merely speculative, redressed favorable decision." Lujan Defenders Wildlife, 504 555, 560-561, 112 2130, 2136, 351 (1992) (footnote, citations, internal quotation marks omitted); also, 751, 3324, 556 (1984); 472, 758, 700 (1982). principles, repeatedly recognize invoke judicial power. College, supra; Schlesinger Reservists Comm. Stop War, 418 208, 94 2925, 41 706 (1974); Richardson, 166, 2940, 678 Ex parte Levitt, 302 633, 58 L.Ed. (1937) (per curiam). also made clear "it burden 'party who seeks exercise his favor,' McNutt Motors Acceptance Corp., 298 178, 189, 56 780, 785, 80 1135 (1936), 'clearly allege facts demonstrating he proper party resolution dispute.' Warth Seldin, 422 490, 518, [95 2197, 2215, 45 343] (1975)." supra, 231, 607-608. And proceeded final after has, "those (if controverted) 'supported adequately adduced trial' avoid dismissal grounds. Lujan, 561, 2137 (quoting Gladstone, Realtors Village Bellwood, 441 91, 115, 31, 99 1601, 1616, 60 66 (1979)). 12 grievances applies much context other. Wright actor discriminating basis resulting "accords 'those persons treatment' challenged conduct." U.S., 3326 Heckler Mathews, 465 728, 740, 1387, 1395, 646 (1984)); 489-490, 26, 768, 26 (disapproving proposition citizen "standing affirmative-action program government deny laws"). therefore reject claim," Oral Arg. 36, adhere instead principles outlined above. 13 discussed harms caused classifications Shaw. that, general, "[t]hey threaten stigmatize individuals reason membership group incite hostility." 2824. "representational harms" type classification cause: "When obviously created solely effectuate perceived common interests group, elected officials more likely believe represent members rather than constituency whole." 2827. "redistricting legislation bizarre 'unexplainable grounds other race' demands close scrutiny give laws classify citizens race." 2825 (citation able she, injured kind court. 14 Demonstrating individualized our doctrine requires easy frequently difficult discern why put another. id., 2826 (noting difficulty determining single-member purposefully distinguishes race"). Where resides gerrymandered treatment legislature's reliance criteria, action, cf. Contractors Jacksonville, 508 2297, 124 586 Voters suffer special representational cause context. hand, where she those harms, inference would justified absent inference. Unless present, asserting approve. 15 case, produced carry imposes upon them. Even assuming (without deciding) causes strict Shaw, Neither itself, Juris. Statement 111-120; B, infra, nor indicates appellees, treatment. contain legislature aware composition Parish. always draws lines, just age, economic status, religious political persuasion, variety demographic actors. That sort consciousness lead inevitably impermissible discrimination." 2826. follows proof "[t]hat consciousness" process inadequate fact. Ibid. 16 urge "segregated" thus student segregated school (citing Brown Education, 347 483, 74 686, 98 873 (1954)); 33. enough anything about intentions appear reflect Of course, true drawn way. allegation cognizable never without more, violate Constitution. Cf. ---- - 2823-2826; Mobile Bolden, 446 55, 100 1490, 64 47 (1980). insist entirety, isolation. 36. true. irrelevant. mean—even inflicts some voters—that Only "as direct having treatment," Allen, 3327 (emphasis added), challenge, proving merits. 18 Appellees' 411 (1991), unavailing. "[a]n sit petit jury, possess 409, 1370. argument "they placed color skin," 16, cannot help them, established case. 19 STEVENS agrees quite grounds: view, failure dilution deprives irrespective whether alleged proven Post, 2834-2835; Miller Johnson, --- 2475, (1995) post, 2497-2499 (STEVENS, dissenting). White's dissenting argued position, 2817 ("Appellants presented injury"); 2834 dissent ), prevail. offers revisit 20 requires. point us go forward showing harm, decline invitation approve vacated, instructions dismiss complaint. 21 ordered. 22 GINSBURG concurs APPENDIX TO OPINION OF J. 23 [NOTE: MATERIAL SET AT THIS POINT IS NOT DISPLAYABLE (GRAPHIC OR TABULAR MATERIAL)] B 24 25 whom SOUTER joins, concurring. join extent discusses voters, us, within challenge. 27 apparently find plaintiffs races resided electoral legislature[ ] reli[ed] criteria" ante, ____, could were 'placed skin.' Ante, ____ 16). fails explain coherently how discriminates invidiously deliberately joining district; placement amounts race; does, whom. 29 term "gerrymander" long "any gives advantage map." Musgrove, Theory Gerrymandering (1977). Powell noted, "a colorable presents justiciable controversy Clause." Davis Bandemer, 478 109, 185, 106 2797, 2838, 92 85 (1986) (Powell, dissenting); Gomillion Lightfoot, 364 339, 81 125, (1960). gerrymander. Respondents lines disadvantage weaker segment community. Indeed, identify affiliation respondents. simply being deprived "to participate electing House Representatives color-blind wherein limited abridged designated districts." 8, ¶ 29. 30 Because enforce 'a laws,' (1982)), holds mere respondents' residency standing. agree conclusion. What understand majority's view diverse respondents should fare better black-majority white-majority proved substantially disadvantaged opportunity influence process. They argue adopted unconstitutional Davis, 132-133, 2810-2811. analysis lenient victims gerrymandering, 151-152, 2820 (O'CONNOR, judgment), prevail, "shut process." 139, 2814 (opinion White, J.). 31 opinion. hold essential elements Shaw: 32 "Because expression politics, 'the power winning elections,' cases 'whether unconstitutionally chance effectively process.' 'an violation found system disadvantages certain effectively.' 2836 2810) original). 33 concur syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499. Between Reconstruction early 1980s, white citizens, black representatives. 1983, 1982 ground diluted strength 1973, ordered draw up Major Treen, 574 325 (ED La.1983). majority-black area; 1990, representative Reconstruction. pp. 319-320

Classification Label: 8