Court Opinion

ID: 9423970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-02 23:09:46.574528+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:22:47.419150
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice White,
with whom Mr. Justice Stewart joins,
dissenting in part.
As I understand the arguments in this case, appellees suggest that whatever reasons state officials may have given for excluding appellants from the ballot, the exclusion and the judgment below are sustainable on independent grounds, at least as to the Greene County NDPA candidates. The Corrupt Practices Act, it is said, required the filing of committee designations not only when appellants became Democratic Party candidates* and entered the primary but when, after losing *368the primary, they announced their candidacy under the banner of another party. If the Alabama courts so construed the statute, I would not think the Court would reverse this case unless it held the Corrupt Practices Act unconstitutional. Of course, the Alabama courts have not passed on this question to date. But the issue is not frivolous and I would not construe the statute here in the first instance, which the Court in effect does, but would remand the matter to the three-judge court for its interpretation of Alabama law. On the other issues in the case, I agree with the Court.

 At that time they filed designations which were, as the Solicitor General concedes, “in terms directed to the Democratic Primary, rather than the general election.” A typical designation read in the relevant part as follows:
“I hereby declare myself to be a candidate for the Democratic nomination (or election) in the Primary Elections to be held on *368Tuesday, the 7th day of May, 1968, and on Tuesday, the 4th day of June, 1968, for the office of County Commissioner for Greene # 1
(District, Circuit or County, if (Place Number, if applicable) applicable)

“If I am a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Judge of a Court of Record, I do further certify that at the time of filing this Declaration of Candidacy I am not under disbarment or suspension.
“I hereby certify and declare that I appoint myself (and hereby accept the appointment) as the sole and only person or committee to receive, expend, audit and disburse all monies contributed, donated, subscribed, or in any way furnished or raised for the purpose of aiding or promoting my nomination or election as such candidate for said office in accordance with Sections 274 and 275 of Title 17 of the Code of Alabama of 1950, as amended (Corrupt Practices Act).
[Emphasis added.]
“Vassie Knott
(Signature of Candidate):