Court Opinion

ID: 7279173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 20:05:00.655397+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:18:59.294317
License: Public Domain

MaeKINNON, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
As I view the complaint it sought only the seating of the Keane delegates at the Democratic National Convention and that issue has been determined by the Supreme Court staying our judgment and by the subsequent action of the Democratic National Committee seating the anti-Keane delegation. I do not consider that this lawsuit involves questions as to the collateral consequences of that action or as to the actions taken by the Democratic Party subsequent to the adjournment of the convention.
However, I do not consider that the action is moot insofar as it seeks a declaration that “the Rules of the Democratic National Party violate the First, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1871.” Complaint of Plaintiff at p. 13. In our earlier opinion, Brown v. O’Brien, 152 U.S.App.D.C. 157, 469 F.2d 563 (1972), we passed upon such issues to the extent necessary and upheld the constitutionality of Guideline C-6 sufficiently to decide that petitioners Keane, et al, were not entitled to be seated at the convention. While the Supreme Court thereafter vacated our judgment, Keane v. Nat. Democratic Party, 409 U.S. 816, 93 S.Ct. 67, 34 L.Ed. 2d 73 (Oct. 10, 1972), the issue as to the constitutional validity of Guideline C-6 continues, is almost certain to recur and the timing of its likely reoccurrence close to our national presidential elections would make it evasive of review within the time available. Moore v. Ogilvie, 394 U.S. 814, 89 S.Ct. 1493, 23 L.Ed.2d 1 (1969). I would therefore renstate our judgment insofar as it upholds the constitutional validity of Guideline C-6.