Memorandum from Lani Guinier to Jack Greenberg Re: Voting Rights Cases in North Carolina

    R.e

Memo ran dum

January L7, 1983

To Jack Greenberg

Lani Guinier

Voting Rights Cases in North Carolina

l-rom:

I recommend that LDF initiate two Iawsuits chaltenging at-large
electi-ons in IIaIifax and CuiIforC counEies i-n North carolin*.
The total budget for t,he two cases would be Iess than .$13,000.00
($5,675.00 in Gullford County and $7rI75.00 in Halifax County).
An attorney in JuIius Chambersr office, L€s1ie Winnerr wiII be
LocaL counseL. I wlIl be assisting her.

HA.LIFA.X-C.OUNTY

rf wa only do one o! tho two cases, lt should here. Hallfax le
a rural eastern county ln Nort,h carorina's black belt. rhls ls
o'ne of the counties for which you have aJ.ready approved nominal
fund.ing for the expenses of a graduate student to do research into
the history of voting discrimination. Despite the large numbers
of black residents (47* black county-wide; 60t black in the non-
urban areas), there has never been a brack erected to the six-
member county commission. r attach a memorandum from Leslie
describing the basis in more detail for a Section 2, Voting Rights
Act challenge to the at-Iarge method of electing county commissioners

GUILFORD COUNTY

Although the sltuatlon here is not as raclally poiarized as'in
HaIifax, there are several reasons to challenge the at-Iarge
method of electing county commissioners in Gui. Iford County. The
county has a progressive reputation (Greensboro is the major city);
yet, most of the factors identified in the Senate Report on the
amendment to Section 2 as indicators of a.good cas'e are present.



For example, only one black has ever been elected to the County
commission. rn 1980, a blue ribbon biracial group appoi-nted
by the County Commission to study the form of election recommended
changing to district elections. The Commissioners have thus
far refused even to consider the proposed change. In addition,
there is an enthusiastic black dentist,/community activist who
suggested the idea of this lawsuit and who will be of enormous
assistance in the litigation. Therre is also a 33t chance of
getting a black district judge and a 66t chance of at least
getting a moderate judge. I attach a letter from Leslie for more
it .r. cl., g ro un d .

l=:Utglgq-1-9..!.: LDF should fund these two larrgults in North CaroLina.
I have a Iot of confidence in LesIie Winner, the 1oca.I counsel,
who is developing a real expertise in voting rights }itigation aE
a result of her work in Gingles v. Edmisten (our statwide
reapportionment challenge) and Haskins v. WiIs.on County)'. (on which
Jim Robinson based the fund raising brochure). At our voting rights
conference in New Or1eans, I agreed to look into theee caEes, and
baeed on thc tnlormatlon ln the t!.ro attaohmontB, I recommend wr
Proceed... I am prepared, to work on both caEes. . i

I . 1" :

LG/ r
Attach

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