Legal Document

364 U.S. 339 81 Supreme Court Reporter 125 5 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 110 C. G. GOMILLION et al., Petitioners,v.Phil M. LIGHTFOOT, as Mayor of the City Tuskegee, al. Number 32. Argued Oct. 18, 19, 1960. Decided Nov. 14, Mr. Fred D. Gray, Montgomery, Ala., and Robert L. Carter, New York City, for petitioners. James Judge respondents. Philip Elman, Washington, D.C., States, amicus curiae. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered opinion Court. 1 This litigation challenges validity, under Constitution, Local Act 140, passed by Legislature Alabama in 1957, redefining boundaries Tuskegee. Petitioners, Negro citizens who were, at time this redistricting measure, residents brought an action District Middle a declaratory judgment that 140 is unconstitutional, injunction to restrain officers Tuskegee officials Macon County, Alabama, from enforcing against them other Negroes similarly situated. Petitioners' claim enforcement statute, which alters shape square uncouth twenty-eight-sided figure, will constitute discrimination violation Due Process Equal Protection Clauses Fourteenth Amendment Constitution deny right vote definance Fifteenth Amendment. 2 The respondents moved dismissal failure state upon relief could be granted lack jurisdiction court motion, stating, 'This has no control over, supervision power change any municipal corporations fixed duly convened elected legislative body, acting people State Alabama.' 167 F.Supp. 405, 410. On appeal, Appeals Fifth Circuit, affirmed judgment, one judge dissenting. 270 Federal Reporter, 2nd 594. We case here since serious questions were raised concerning over its municipalities relation Amendments. 362 916, 80 669, 4 737. 3 At stage we are not concerned with truth allegations, is, ability petitioners sustain their allegations proof. sole question whether entitle make good on they being denied rights Constitution. complaint, charging device disenfranchise citizens, alleges following facts: Prior was shape; transformed it into strangely irregular figure indicated diagram appended opinion. essential inevitable effect redefinition Tuskegee's remove city all save four or five 400 voters while removing single white voter resident. result deprive discriminatorily benefits residence including, inter alia, elections. These if proven, would abundantly establish ordinary geographic measure even within familiar abuses gerrymandering. If these trial remained uncontradicted unqualified, conclusion irresistible, tantamount practical purposes mathematical demonstration, legislation solely segregating colored fencing out town so pre-existing vote. It difficult appreciate what stands way adjudging statute having invalid light principles must judge, uniformly judged, statutes that, howsoever speciously defined, obviously discriminate citizens. 'The (Fifteenth) nullifies sophisticated well simple-minded modes discrimination.' Lane versus Wilson, 307 268, 275, 59 872, 876, 83 L.Ed. 1281. 6 complaint amply racial discrimination. Against have never suggested, either brief oral argument, countervailing function designed serve. invoke generalities expressing State's unrestricted unlimited, Constitution—to establish, destroy, reorganize contraction expansion political subdivisions, wit, cities, counties, local units. freely recognize breadth importance aspect power. To exalt absolute misconceive reach rule Court's decisions leading Hunter Pittsburgh, 207 161, 28 40, 52 151, related cases relied 7 involved Allegheny, Pennsylvania, General Assembly direct consolidation Pittsburgh objection majority Allegheny voters. alleged already had made numerous civic improvements, only then planning undertake such annexation therefore greatly increase tax burden residents. All held (1) there implied contract between taxes spent benefit city, (2) citizen municipality deprived property without due process law subjected increased burdens his another. Related cases, also rely, Trenton Jersey, 262 182, 43 534, 67 937; Pawhuska Oil & Gas Co., 250 394, 39 526, 63 1054, Laramie County Com'rs Albany Com'rs, 92 307, 23 552, far off mark. They authority principle constitutionally protected contractual obligation arises subordinate governmental entities relationship. 8 In short, come before regarding dealing subdivisions fall two classes: those claimed State, virtue prohibition impairment (Art. I, § 10) Clause Amendment, extinguish, alter of, existing municipality; identity whereby suffer economic disadvantage. 9 Neither claims supported specific limitation confines As first category, obvious creation municipalities—clearly act—does conception Dartmouth College case. Wheat. 518, 629. second, clearly emerges taxation affords immunity mere inequalities burdens, nor does afford protection indirect consequence exercise powers. 10 Particularly broad provisions derive content interpretive inclusion exclusion, imperative generalizations, based qualified concrete situations gave rise them, applied context disregard variant controlling facts. Thus, correct reading seemingly unconfined dicta kindred plenary manipulate every conceivable way, purpose, affairs corporations, but rather unrestrained particular prohibitions considered cases. 11 itself intimates legislature may omnipotent disposition some types owned pages 178 181, 46—47. Further, refused allow abolish municipality, boundaries, merge another preserving creditors old effective recourse collection debts owed them. Shapleigh San Angelo, 646, 17 957, 42 310; Port Mobile ex rel. Watson, 116 289, 398, 29 620; Town Mount Pleasant Beckwith, 100 514, 25 699; Broughton Pensacola, 93 266, 896. For example, Watson said: 12 'Where resource payment bonds corporation when issued, withdraws limits taxing power, leaves adequate means bonds, forbidden constitution null void.' supra, page 305, 405. 13 line conclusively shows acknowledged do regardless consequences. Legislative municipalities, less than lies scope relevant limitations imposed observation Graham Folsom, 200 248, 253, 26 245, 247, 50 464, becomes relevant: destroy greater repeal legislation.' case, attempt evade discharge obligations extinguished township, McKenna, writing Court, went point out, reference cases: 14 'It argued this, alteration destruction divisions proper submit. argument did prevail. answered, now answer it, extensive though met overcome provision forbids passing impairing contracts. * *' 253—254, 247. 15 regard constitutional contracts, should equally true paraphrase, deprives because race. opposite conclusion, urged us respondents, sanction achievement voting whatever long cloaked garb realignment subdivisions. inconceivable guaranties embedded thus manipulated existence.' Frost Trucking company Railroad Commission California, 271 583, 594, 46 605, 607, 70 1101. 16 find barrier Colegrove Green, 328 549, 66 1198, 90 1432. Illinois governing arrangement congressional districts State. rested disparity population different rendered effectiveness each individual's others. came pass through shifts 1901, organized districts, 1946, lodged. During entire period elections districting scheme devised 1901. ground presented subject meet adjudication.* decisive facts taken proved, wholly considerations found Colegrove. That discriminatory apportionment districts. appellants complained dilution strength votes inaction course many years. complain affirmative consequent advantages ballot affords. When singles readily isolated segment minority special treatment, violates involving unequal weight distribution decision differentiation lines approval given unequivocal withdrawal Apart else, lift controversy so-called 'political' arena conventional sphere litigation. 18 sum, Holmes remarked, situation, Nixon Herndon, 273 536, 540, 47 446, 71 759, 'Of petition concerns action,' subject-matter suit little more play words.' A worked unconstitutional deprivations petitioners' immune attack simply mechanism employed boundaries. According made, merely redrawn incidental inconvenience petitioners; accurate say franchise end incidentally changed city's While form act metes bounds, established, inescapable human essay geometry geography despoil theretofore enjoyed rights. Green. 19 exercises domain interest, insulated federal judicial review. But insulation carried used instrument circumventing federally right. applications. been recognized prohibited exploiting justify imposition 'unconstitutional condition.' What said applicable here, viz., 'Acts generally lawful become unlawful done accomplish end, Reading 226 324, 357, 33 90, 57 243, cannot condition attain result.' Western Union Telegraph Foster, 247 105, 114, 38 438, 439, 62 1006. entitled prove trial. 20 reasons, principal conclusions erroneous below reversed. 21 Reversed. 22 DOUGLAS, joining adheres dissents 1432, South Peters, 276, 641, 94 834. APPENDIX TO OPINION OF THE COURT. CHART SHOWING TUSKEGGE, ALABAMA, BEFORE AND AFTER ACT WHITTAKER, concurring. 24 N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions concur whole seems me am doubtful averments present true, show purpose abridge 'right vote', sense. vote' guaranteed same others election precinct, ward division. And, inasmuch division, area he reside, seem follow one's Division abridged places B enjoys privileges Division, placing group Atlantic clear accomplishment purpose—to use phrase—of 'fencing of' segregation races Brown Board Education, 347 483, 74 686, 98 873; Cooper Aaron, 358 1, 78 1401, 5, and, stated, think ground—which, incidentally, involve, just cited problem. Soon after Governor Dwight Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 Green 1947 biennial message recommended reapportionment. immediately responded, Ill.Sess.Laws 1947, Page 879, 1951 redistricted again. 1951, 1924.

Classification Label: 1