Legal Document

528 U.S. 250120 S.Ct. 740145 L.Ed.2d 747 SyllabusNOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as being done in connection with this case, at the time opinion issued. The constitutes no part of Court but has been prepared by Reporter Decisions for convenience reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 321, 337. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES GUTIERREZ et al.v.ADA al. CERTIORARI TO APPEALS FOR NINTH CIRCUIT No. 99 51. Argued December 6, 1999Decided January 19, 2000 Organic Act Guam, 48 U.S.C. § 1422 provides, inter alia, that "[i]f [slate of] candidates [for Governor and Lieutenant Guam] receive[s] majority votes cast any election, . runoff election shall held." Petitioners, running on one slate Governor, received gubernatorial slates 1998 Guam general did not receive total number ballots voters cast. Respondents, petitioners' opponents, sought writ mandamus ordering election. District issued writ, Ninth Circuit ultimately affirmed, interpreting statutory phrase "majority election" to require Held: does when candidate Territory, simultaneous Section contains six express references an those offices, two them preceding "in election," four following. So surrounded, "any can only refer words are known their companions. See, e.g., Gustafson Alloyd 513 561, 575. This reading confirmed fact that, later §1422, Congress varied specific modifier spoke "general which would occur. hardly have used mean mention few lines further on. It equally odd think after repeatedly using "votes" or "vote" expression choice slate, suddenly "votes "ballots cast," respondents suggest. Congress, indeed, shown recognizes difference between very context Guamanian elections: From 1972 until 1998, §1712 expressly required Delegate elected "by separate ballot Delegate." To accept respondents' also impute strange preference making hard select because even though already had all who cared choose among candidates. Requiring day some tension §1422a, provides removal upon vote least two-thirds persons actually voted such office, went polls. Respondents' considerations pointing contrary specifically states "a Delegate" necessary elect Delegate, §1422 comparably clear sufficient slates; Court's render nullity thus offend rule against attributing redundancy rejected. Pp. 4 8. 179 F.3d 672, reversed remanded. Souter, J., delivered unanimous Court. Opinion 1 NOTICE: subject formal revision before publication preliminary print Reports. Readers requested notify Decisions, Supreme States, Washington, D. C. 20543, typographical other errors, order corrections may made goes press. 51 2 CARL T. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, PETITIONERSv.JOSEPH F. ADA FELIX P. CAMACHO 3 ON WRIT OFAPPEALS [January 2000] 5 Justice Souter 6 question here whether statute governing elections Territory compels We hold requires runoff. 7 * In November 3, petitioners Carl Gutierrez Madeleine Bordallo were opposed Joseph Ada Felix Camacho. 24,250 votes, 21,200 Ada. 675 (CA9 1999); App. 16. One thousand hundred ninety-four write-in candidates; 1,313 either candidate; 609 both slates. F.3d, 675; was 48,666, slate's represented 49.83 percent total. Election Commission certified winner, finding 51.21 vote, calculated deducting left blank from 675. Respondents Camacho sued contending cast, 64 Stat. 384, amended, 1421 seq. (1994 ed. Supp. III). 8 far relevant, that: 9 "[t]he executive power vested officer whose official title 'Governor Guam'. together people qualified members Legislature Guam. chosen jointly, casting each voter single applicable offices. If fourteenth thereafter held receiving highest second first 1970. Thereafter, beginning year 1974, every years office term successors qualified." 1422. 10 position boils down claim regardless ballots. correct phrase, parties agree required. If, however, refers slates, order, Governor. 11 read so ruled election." court accordingly Civ. 98 00066 (Dec. 9, 1998), Pet. Cert. A 25, 55. 12 Although Appeals emergency stay pending appeal, 676, affirmed. understood reference cast" meaning "all presumably included 'in election,' if meant governor lieutenant governor." Id., 677. thought "nullity." Ibid. relied comparison 1712 Guam's must elected. reasoned could similar language limitation intended 678. stayed its mandate disposition petition certiorari. 13 granted certiorari, 527 ___ (1999), resolve split Circuit's interpretation Third identical Revised Virgin Islands. 68 503, 1591 (providing Islands election"); Todman Boschulte, 694 F.2d 939 (CA3 1982). reverse. II 14 key understanding what means most salient feature provision occurs. section Governor: "The "; ." preceded followed four. With except relentless repetition? ask merely apply interpretive familiar outside law within, 575 (1995) ("[A] word company keeps"); Jarecki G. Searle 367 303, 307 (1961) ("The maxim noscitur sociis, while inescapable rule, often wisely applied where capable many meanings avoid giving unintended breadth Acts Congress"). Cf. Foster Love, 522 67, 71 (1997) ("When federal statutes speak 'the election' Senator Representative, they plainly combined actions officials make final selection officeholder (subject possibility run-off )"). 15 Other clues confirm shift attention unadorned definite modifier. Later same provision, vary occur; significant peg majority-vote requirement [general] 16 cast." And yet just we treat way, referring containing office." Surely ballots, midway through said "ballots." argue otherwise tag extravagant opaque use adjective noun worked nicely. But aside elections. There simply reason "ballots" §1422. 17 On (as case) try counter unreality emphasizing state cases holding passing referendum going polls, mere voting particular issue. Allen Burkhart, 377 P.2d 821 (Okla. 1963); Thurston County Farm Bureau County, 136 Neb. 575, 287 N. W. 180 (1939); Missouri Winkelmeier, 35 Mo. 103 (1864). there uniform see, Wooley Sterrett, 387 S. 2d 734, 739 740 (Tex. 1965); Munce O'Hara, 340 Pa. 209, A. 532 (1940); State ex rel. Short Clausen, 72 Wash. 409, 130 479 (1913), were, treatment referendums plausible model officials. Referendums exceptions normal legislative process, passage itself essential functioning government. ballot-majority makes impossible pass measure, nothing need record failure. official, hand, necessitate action, trouble expense apparent sense expressed given them. 18 As confirmation obvious reading, note requiring recall 1422a(b) "[a]ny member legislature removed last favor constitute participating looks rational world, expect oust pegged lower than take one. 19 these according association, nevertheless emphasize point way. First, noted before, includes statement Delegate. Without argue, office. drafting supports inference. adopted enacting issue affirmative indication gave differentiating terms Hence, laws "do seek clarify earlier enacted term" depend effectiveness clarification, change statute," "beside point" enactment. Almendarez-Torres 523 224, 237 (1998). spoken explicit clarity passed §1712, say more that. 20 argument supposedly undermining naturally suggested association stressed Appeals, see Kungys 485 759, 778 (1988). force, enough. missing. construction many, albeit important one, necessarily strength turn tide good cause come out Besides, thinking clarifying value. initial 1970, generally successive thereafter. "[A]ny therefore applies periodically scheduled future. That heavy work perform, job job, enough bar disqualifying sensible reading. 21 judgment reversed, case remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 22 ordered.

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