Memo to Stein RE: Cromartie Written Discovery

Correspondence
September 30, 1999

Memo to Stein RE: Cromartie Written Discovery preview

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  • Case Files, Cromartie Hardbacks. Memo to Stein RE: Cromartie Written Discovery, 1999. 0d038f23-ee0e-f011-9989-7c1e5267c7b6. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/2c775048-295a-4928-9bbf-2ae01b109b46/memo-to-stein-re-cromartie-written-discovery. Accessed October 08, 2025.

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    MEMORANDUM 

Adam Stein 

Todd Cox PL 

Cromartie Written Discovery 

September 30, 1999 

  

Attached is the State’s draft responses to Plaintiffs’ First Request for Admissions. In 

general, I do not disagree with the State’s responses. However, I have concerns with a few 

specific responses and I think the State should modify accordingly. In any event, I think we 

should respond differently. My concerns with the admissions are outlined below: 

Response to Admission 6: I do not think the State should specifically identify the 

characteristics of the district that made it vulnerable to constitutional attack or even concede that 

it was vulnerable to attack. Such an admission/concession would prevent it from using any of 

these methods in redistricting in the future and unnecessarily taint the 1997 Plan to the extent they 

argue that any of the 1992 Plan is the “core” of the 1997 Plan. I think it is enough to admit that 

the 1992 Plan was attacked and that the Court held it unconstitutional and deny everything else. 

Response to Admission 13: I do not think that it is necessary to specify that black and 

white candidates rely on the votes of black voters, as it could lead to Vera-type allegations. The 
balance of the admission is sufficient. 

Response to Admission 22: In addition to Section 2, I think that the State should list the 

effect and purpose prongs of Section 5 as possible grounds for a Civil Rights Division objection. 

Response to Admission 27 and 28: 1 do not think it helps the State to admit that 

Districts 1 and 12 of the 1992 Plan are not compact. I think that it could in fact help to dignify 

Everett’s “fruit of the poisonous tree” argument, since the State is arguing that the 1997 districts 

use the core of the prior district. 

I have also attached the interrogatory answers I drafted. Tiare and I agreed that I would 

take the lead on answering the first 3 interrogatories and the State would take the lead on the 

others. I will contact you soon. Thanks.

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