Court Opinion

ID: 9763323
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:41:06.765515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:41.136662
License: Public Domain

BROCK, Justice,
concurring in part; dissenting in part.
I concur in the decision of the Court and in most of the majority opinion. However, I do not agree with suggestions in the opinion that in drawing legislative district lines there is any “necessity of maintaining the racial integrity of [a certain legislative district],” or that drawing a district line in a particular place may be required or justified in order “to prevent the dilution of minority voting strength.”
In my view, the Constitution of the nation and that of Tennessee are color-blind. It is not constitutionally permissible to discriminate in favor of black people any more than it is to discriminate against black people. It is my opinion that in drawing legislative district lines the race, color, religion, ethnic heritage, political persuasion, economic condition, or the like, of the voters or their incumbent representatives are totally irrelevant considerations.