Court Opinion

ID: 9460425
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:49:48.169315+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:36.760106
License: Public Domain

CLARK, Circuit Judge
(concurring):
I agree with the majority that the district court’s finding of “no satisfactory evidence of discrimination” was clearly erroneous. As Judge Thornber-ry’s opinion ably documents, the record demands the conclusion that the City of Delray Beach dealt with persons living outside of its boundaries on a discriminatory basis which was unsupported by any rational relationship to a valid municipal purpose. Such a course of conduct denies equal protection. I conceive it to be unnecessary and unwise to apply the stringent principles of Hawkins v. Town of Shaw to a case such as this. Many constitutionally healthy municipal actions treating with those residing outside its boundaries may have the effect of benefiting one race. The application of the irrebuttable statistical presumption and compelling interest test rationales of Hawkins are unwarranted in such a nonresident context.
I concur in the result.