Third Supplement to the Complaint and Amendment to Complaint; General Assembly of North Carolina House Bill 1; Senate Bill 1
Public Court Documents
April 27, 1982 - August 16, 1982
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Case Files, Thornburg v. Gingles Hardbacks, Briefs, and Trial Transcript. Third Supplement to the Complaint and Amendment to Complaint; General Assembly of North Carolina House Bill 1; Senate Bill 1, 1982. c10fc558-d792-ee11-be37-6045bddb811f. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/0a86bec3-bbe4-4137-8be4-88cc0698f58d/third-supplement-to-the-complaint-and-amendment-to-complaint-general-assembly-of-north-carolina-house-bill-1-senate-bill-1. Accessed December 04, 2025.
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
RALEIGH DIVISION
No. B1-803-Civ-5
et aI.
P1a int if fs ,
RALPH GINGLES,
V.
RUFUS EDMISTEN, €t dl.,
Defendants.
THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO THE
COMPLAINT AND AMENDMENT
TO CO}IPLAINT
I. Introduction
On April 27, 1982, the North Carolina General Assembly
amended the apportionment of the North Carolina House of
Representatives and of the North Carolina Senate which are the
subject of the Second Supplement to the Complaint. The new
apportionments were based on the previous apportionments which
were amended but not repealed. Each apportionment continues to
have the purpose, result, and effect of diluting minority voting
strength and of denying black citizens the ability to use their
vote effectively.
The apportionments as amended by the General Assembly
vioLate 52 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965r ds amended, the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the united
States Constitution, and 42 U.S.C. S1981.
The ailegations of this Third Supplement to the Complaint
set out the changes in the apportionments and are in addition to
the allegations contained in the complaint, the supplement to the
Complaint, and the Second Supplement to the Complaint previously
filed in this action. In addition the Amendment to Lhe Complaint
brings the previous allegations into conformity with the June,
l9B2 amendment to 52 of the Voting Rights Act.
II. Jurisdiction
135. The Court has jurisdiction over the claims in the
Third Supplement to the Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. SS1331
and 1343 and 42 U.S.C. S1973j. Plaintiffs' claims arise from the
statutes and constitution of the United States and are claims to
enforce statutes and constitutional provisions which protect
civil rights including the right to vote.
III. Count Eight: Dilution of Black Voting Strength in
Eprn;-IqEZ Apportionment of the N. C. General Assembly
136. On April 26, 1982, the North Carolina General Assembly
(hereafter "the General Assembly") convened for the purpose of
reapportioning the districts of the North Carolina House of
Representatives (hereafter "the House of Representatives" ) and
the North Carolina Senate (hereafter "the Senate" ).
137. In response to the filing of this action, and follow-
ing an objection by the Department of Justice under 55 of the
Voting Rights Actr the General Assembly amended the February,
l9B2 apportionment of the House of Representatives contained in
Chapter 4 of the Extra Session Laws of L982 and the February,
L9B2 apportionment of the Senate contained in Chapter 5 of the
Extra Session Laws of 1982.
138. The amendment to Chapter 4 of the Extra Session Laws
is contained in Chapter 1 of the Laws of the Second Extra Session
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of L982. A true and accurate copy of Chapter I of the Laws
of the Second Extra Session Laws of L982 is attached as Exhibit.
A hereto.
139. The amendment to Chapter 5 of the Extra Session Laws
is contained in Chapter 2 of the Laws of the Second Extra Session
of 1982. A true and accurate copy of Chapter 2 of the Laws of
the Second Extra Session is attached as Exhibit B hereto.
140. Chapter 4 of the Extra Session Laws of 7982 as amended
by Chapter I of the Laws of the Second Extra Session of L982
(hereinafter "the ApriI 1-982 House apportionment") is based in
part on Article II, 53(3) of the N. C. Constitution.
141. The April 1982 House apportionment continues to use
multimember districts to avoid dividing counties in the apportion-
ment of the House of Representatives.
142. The practice of using multimember districts in the
apportionment of the North Carolina House of Representatives and
the use of multimember districts in the April 1982 House
apportionment have the purpose, result and effect of abridging
the right of black citizens to vote, of diluting minority voting
strength and of denying members of the black community the oppor-
tunity to elect representatives of their choice.
143.
.The
April L9B2 House apportionment divides the state
into districts in a manner that has the purpose, result and
effect of diluting minority voting strength, of denying black
citizens the opportunity to elect representatives of their
choice, and of abridging the right of black citizens to vote.
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144. The North Carolina House of Representatives had
amendments and alternatives available to it at its April 1982
session which would have mitigated or avoided the dilution of
minority voting strength but it refused to consider these amend-
ments and alternatives.
145. The refusal to consider the amendments and alterna-
tives which are referred to in Paragraph L44 above had the purpose,
result and effect of diluting minority voting strength and of
discriminating against black votes.
L46. Chapter 5 of the Extra Session Laws of I9B2r Ers
amended by Chapter 2 of the Laws of the Second Extra Session of
L982 (hereafter "the April L9B2 Senate apportionment") is based in
part on Article II, 55(3) of the N. C. Constitution.
L47. The ApriL L982 Senate Apportionment uses multimember
districts to avoid dividing counties in the apportionment of the
North Carolina Senate.
I48. The practice of using multimember districts in the
apportionment of the North Carolina Senate and the use of multi-
member districts in the April L982 Senate apportionment have the
purpose, result and effect of abridging the right of black citi-
zens to vote, of diluting minority voting strength, and of deny-
ing members of the black community the opportunity to elect
representatives of their choice.
149. The April 1982 Senate apportionment divides the state
into districts in a manner that has the purpose, result and
effect of diluting minority voting strength, of denying members
of the black community the opportunity to elect representatives
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of their choice, and of abridging the right of black citizens to
vote.
150. rn April, 1982 the North carolina senate had amend-
ments and alternatives available to it which would have avoided
or mitigated the dilution of black voting strength but the Senate
rejected or refused to consider these alternatives and amendments.
151. The rejection of or refusal of the Senate to consider
the alternatives and amendments referred to in Paragraph I50 had
the purpose, effect, and result of diluting minority voting
strength, of denying members of the black community the oppor-
tunity to elect representatives of their choice, and of abridg-
ing the right of black citizens to vote.
A. Fifteenth Claim for ReIief
L52. Plaintiffs' Fifteenth claim is brought pursuant to S2
of the Voting Rights Act of 1965r ds amended, 42 U.S.C. 51973.
r53. The purpose, result and effect of the apportionment
of the North Carolina General Assembly as enacted in Chapters 4
and 5 of the Extra Session Laws of L9B2r ds amended by Chapters 1
and 2 of the Laws of the second Extra session of t9B2 are to
abridge the right of black citizens to vote, to dil-ute minority
voting strength and to deny members of the black community the
opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
B. Sixteenth CIaim for Relief
154. The Sixteenth Claim
42 U.S.C. 51983 to enforce the
for relief is brought pursuant to
Thirteenth, the equal protection
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clause of the Fourteenth, and the Fifteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution, and pursuant to 42 U.S.C. S198I.
155. The intent and effect of the apportionment of the
North Carolina General Assembly enacted in Chapters 4 and 5 of
the Extra Session Laws of L982r dS amended by Chapters I and 2 of
the Laws of the Second Extra Session of L982, are to discriminate
against black voters, to dilute the vote of black citizens and to
deny plaintiffs their right to use their vote effectively.
IV. Count Nine: Affirmative Duty and Assure Fair
Representation
156. Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs 124-l2B of the
Second Supplement to the Complaint by reference.
157. North CaroLinars practice of using multi-member
districts in the apportionment of the General Assembly has
historically been to the disadvantage of bLack voters and has had
the purpose and effect of diluting minority voting strength and
denying members of the black community the opportunity to elect
members of their choice.
158. North Carolinars history of purposeful discrimination
imposes a affirmative duty on defendants to eliminate the effects
of past purposeful discrimination and to assure that black
citizens have a fair and adequate opportunity to elect represen-
tatives of their choice to the North Carolina General Assembly.
159. Defendants did not meet their affirmative obligation
to assure that black citizens have a fair opportunity to elect
representatives of their choice in the April 1982 apportionment
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of the North Carolina General Assembly.
A. Seventeenth Claim for Relief
150. Plaintiffsr seventeenth claim for relief is brought to
redress defendantsr failure to meet their affirmative obligation
to eliminate the effects of past discrimination and to assure
that black citizens have a fair opportunity to elect represen-
tatives of their choice to the General Assembly, it is brought
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 51983 to enforce the Thirteenth Amendment,
the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the
Fifteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, to 42 U.S.C.
51981, and to 52 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended,42
u.s.c. s1973.
V. Third Supplement to the Prayer for Re1ief
Wherefore plaintiffs pray that the court:
1. Grant the relief prayed for in the Complaint, the Supp1e-
ment and the Second Supplement to the Complaint;
2. Declare that the apportionment of the North Carolina
General Assembly as contained in chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra
session Laws of L982r Ers amended by chapters 1 and 2 of the Laws
of the Second Extra Session of L982, have the purpose, result and
effect of abridging the right of black citizens to vote, diluting
minority voting strength, and of denying black citizens the
opportunity to elect representatives of their choice in violation
of 52 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965r Ers amended, 42 U.S.C.
-7-
S1973, in violation of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth
Amendments to the U. S. Constitution, and a violation of 42
U.S.C. S1981 and enjoin defendants from participating in, super-
vising, conductingr oE certifying the results of any election
pursuant to this apportionment and from enacting or enforcing any
apportionment in the future which has the purpose, result, or
effect of diluting the voting strength of black citizens.
3. Declare that defendants have an affirmative duty to
eliminate effects of past purposeful discrimination and to
assure that plaintiffs and other black citizens have a fair
opportunity to elect representatives of their choice to the North
Carolina General Assembly; further declare that Chapters 4 and 5
of the Extra Session Laws of I9B2 as amended by Chapters 1 and 2
of the Laws of the Second Extra Session of L9B2 do not afford
plaintiffs and other black citizens a fair opportunity to elect
representatives of their choice in violation of 52 of the Voting
Rights Act of 1965r ES amended, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and 42
U.S.C. S1981, enjoin defendants from participating in, super-
vising, conductingt ot certifying the results of any election
pursuant to this apportionment and from enacting or enforcing
any apportionment in the future which does not afford black
citizens a-fair opportunity to elect representatives of their
choice to the North Carolina General Assembly; and enjoining
defendants from participating in, supervising, conducting or
certifying the results of any election pursuant to an apportion-
ment of the North Carolina General Assembly which does not
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eliminate the effects of past purposeful discrimination by every
available means including the use of single member districts;
4. Award the costs of this action, including reasonable
attorneysr fees, to plaintiffs; and
5. Grant such other and further reLief as may be just and
appropriate.
VI.
Plaintiffs amend their Second Claim for relief, at Paragraphs
48-49, challenging Article II, SS3(3) and 5(3) of the North
Carolina Constitution, Fifth Claim for Relief, at paragraph 70,
challenging Chapters 800 and 82L of the Session Laws of 1981,
Tenth Claim for Relief, dt Paragraph I02, challenging Chapter
1130 of the Session Laws of 1981, and Twelfth Claim for Relief,
at Paragraph L23 challenging Chapters 4 and 5 of the Extra
Session laws of 1982, to allege in addition to all- current allega-
tions, that each of the challenged provisions has the result of
abridging the right to vote of black citizens, of diluting minority
voting strength and the denying members of the black community
the opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
This 1L day of August, lg}2.
Respectfully submitted,
nryn-\
Chambers, -Ferguson, Watt, WaIIas,
Adkins & Fuller, p.A.
951 South Independence Boul-evard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
7 04/37 s-846L
{/,/ I.EVONNE pHAMBERS
LESLIE J. ]WINNER
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t,
JACK GREENBERG
JAIVIES NABRIT
NAPOLEON WILLIAMS
LANI GUNIER
Suite 2030
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
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EXHIBIT A
('rr .
(
A}I ACT TO APPOBTIOII
BEPEESEUTATI Y ES.
The Geaeral AssenbIY
Sectiou 1.
Sessi.on Laus of 7982,
to read:
(
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SECOND EXTRA SESSION 1982
RATIFIED BILL
CHAPTEB T
HOSSE EILL T
A BILL TO BE EUTITLEI)
tH8 DrStBrCrs or rB8 uoRrH CIBO[rxl Eous8 0F
of f,orth Carolina enacts:
G.S. 120-2, as rerrittea by Chapter 4, Brtra
is alended bl rerritilg Districts 17 aad 18
trDistrict 17 shall elect tuo BepEesentatiYes ald shall consist
of Block 9Ol and Esuneration District 53tl of Census tract 3ll in
Iancbester Tornship, Block 901 ao<l Eaureratiou District 535 of
CeDsus 1ract 34 j,n Seventy-First foraship, Block 901 of Census
Tract 34 in Carverrs Creek Toruship, Cross Creek Precincts l, 3,
5, 9, 13, 15, 17, and 19, Spring Lake Precinct, Uorganton Boail 1
precinct, Beaver Lake Precinct, Ilestarea Precinct, antl that part
of Census Tract 33.02 in Precinct Serenty-Pirst 1. toy part of
Cross Creek toraship rhich lay be entirely surrounded by
;organtoa Boad 1 Precinct sball also be in the District- Block
3Oq oi Census Tract 26 of Cross Creek Tovnship is not in the
District.
District 18 shall elect three Bepresentatives altl shall consist
of the renaiader of Cueberlancl County not included in District
17- ll
this the
Sec. 2.
In the
27th day
Ihis act is effective upou ratification.
Geaeral lsserbly reatl three tires antl ratitiea( r
of April, 1982-
.Iales C. Green
Presitlent of the Senate
LISTON B. RAMSEY
Listoo B. Eaasey
Speaker of tbe House of EepreseDtatives
House BilI 1
AU ACT TO
I
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
fr"rrBrr B
SECOND EXTRA SESSION 1982
RATIFIED BILL
CHAPTEB 2
SEIIATE BILL 1
aUEUD CHAPTEB 5 OF TnE SESSIOT LAES (I'IRSt EXTBA
1(/
sEssroN, 1982) REDrstBrcTrxc rHE xoBIn caBoLrta sEltAtE-
The Genr:ral Asseubly of North Carolila eaacts:
Section 1. c.S. 120-1(a) as contained in Secti.on 1 of
Chapter 5 of the Session Lars (Ertra Session, t982) is anended
by:
(a) deletiog the folloring language:
rDistrict 2 elects one Senator aud consists of Bertie, Cboran,
cates, Hertford, l{orthanpton, Perquiaa[s, TyrreJ-l and lasbington
Couaties.
District 1 elects one Senator and consists of Beaufort, Canden,
Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pallico anil Pasguotank Counties-
District 3 elects oDe Sesator and consists of Carteret and
Cravea Couuties. rr
aud inserting in lieu thereof:
nDistrict 1 elects one Seuator and consists of Canden,
Currituck, Dare, Eyde, Pasquotank, Perguiaaus ancl Tycrell
Counties; the folloring tornships of Beaufort County: Bath, Long
Acre, Paatego, Richlaod, anrl lashington; aud the folloring
touoships of llas.hi.ngton Couuty: Scupperaong and Skinnersville.
District 2 elects one Senator and consists of Bertie, Chouaa,
Gates, ilertford, and Northanptoa Countiesi the folloring
(
(
tovnsbips of Edgecoabe County: 3 (Upper Conetoe), aud 4 (Deep
Creel') ; the follouing toraships
Halifax, Palnyra, ,Boseneath,
tornships ot Uar tin Coutrtlr:
Bobersonville; and the Lees
of Halifar Couoty: ConoconDara,
and Scotland ileck; the folloring
Goose Uest, H arilton ancl
Itills anil plyuouth Tornships of
ilashiugton County.
District 3 elects oue Seuator and consists of Carteret, Crayen
and Panlico Counties.r;
(b) dei.eting the folloving:
ItDistrict 6 elects one seoator and consists of Eilgeconbe aa6
Halifar Counties and the folloring tornships of t{arren' Couu.ty:
Havtree, 8iyer, Eoanoke, and Sixpouncl- n
ancl inserting in lieu thereof:
rrDistrict b elects otre Senator and consists of t{arreo County;
the forroring tounships of Eclgecombe county: I (Tarboro), 2
(Louer conetoe), 5 (r.oyer Fishinq creek), 6 (upper Fishing
creek) , 7 (srift creek) , B (sparta), 9 (otter creek) , 10 (Lorer
Tovn creek) , 11 (|Jarout creek) , 12 (ffocky fiount] , 13 (cokey) , 14
(upper Torn creek) ; aad the folroring tounships of Ilalifax
county: Brinkreyville, Butterrood, Enfiel,d, Faucett, LittLeton,
Eoauoke Rapiils, and lleldou.tl:
(c) deleting the folloring:
r! District
Count ies. rl
and inserting
r District -9
Chocouini t y
toraships of
9 elects one senator and cousists of llartin anil pitt
t
.!
in ].ieu thereof: I
elects one Seuator and consists of pitt County; the
toruship of Beaufort County; and the follorinq
tlartiu Couaty: Beargrass, Cross Boads, Griffins,
Senate Bill 1
(
JanesviJ.Ie, Poplar Poj-nt, Lilliams, and I{itliaaston- r;
(d) deleting the folloviug:
IDistrict 10 elects oae Senatof, and cousists of t{ilson County;
aad the following townships of Nash county: coopers, Jackson,
lanniags, ttashvirle, North t{hitakers, oak Level, Recl oak, Rocky
HouDt, South Hhitakers ancl Stony Creek- rl
aad inserting in Iieu thereof:
'rDistrict 10 elects one Senator and cousists of lilsou County;
aad the folloring tornships of Nash county: coopers, Jackson,
Uashville, North liiritakers, Oak Level, Red Oak, Bocky t{ount,
South 'rlhitakers aod Stony Creek- n; and
(e) deletrng the folloring:
rrDistrict 11 elects one Senator and consists of Fraok-Lin and
vance couaties; the folloring tornships in Nash county: Baileys,
Cast a Iia, Dry tlel Is, FerrelIs, G rif f ins ; the f ollouinq tornshi ps
in ilake Coun ty: iJ ar-toDS Creek, Leesvi Ile, LittIe Biver r Neu
Light, and Hake Forest; ancl the f ollouing tornships in I{arreu
County: Pishing Creek, Pork, JudkiBs, Nutbush, Sandy Creek,
Shocco, SmitL Creek, and liarrentoo- tri
and insertiug in .i-ieu thereof :
rrDistrict 11 elects one Senator and consists of Franklin ancl
vauce couoties; tire follouing tornships in Nash county: Baileys,
CastaIia, DEy iieils, ferre1Is, criffios, and ilanuings; and the
folloring tornships iu Fake county: Bartons creek, Leesvirre,
little River, Nel tiqht, and Iiake Forest. n
(
(
t
I
Senate tsiLi I
thi.s the
Sec.' Z-
In the
27th day
Ihis act is effective
Geoeral lssenbly read
of April. 1982-
upon ratification.
three tines aod ratified,
JAMES C. GREEN
.Ianes C. Greeo
President of the Senate
LISTON B. RAMSEY
Listoa B- Rausey
Speaker of tbe House of nepreseutatives
a
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t,
Seuate 8i11 1