Correspondence from Reed to Ganucheau (Clerk)
Public Court Documents
July 19, 1990

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Case Files, Chisom Hardbacks. Correspondence from Reed to Ganucheau (Clerk), 1990. 1885fc92-f211-ef11-9f8a-6045bddc4804. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/43d3ce98-230a-4f91-a37a-45a3169127a3/correspondence-from-reed-to-ganucheau-clerk. Accessed May 15, 2025.
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July 19, 1990 Hon. Gilbert F. Ganucheau Clerk United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 100 U.S. Courthouse 600 Camp Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Re: Chisom V. Roemer No. 89-3654 Dear Mr. Ganucheau: At oral argument of this case on April 30, 1990, the panel asked several questions regarding the timing of the upcoming election for Supreme Court Justice in the First District. Plaintiffs-appellants write to inform the Court that the election is scheduled for October, 1990, and the qualifying period, set for July 25-27, 1990, is very close at hand. In Chisom II, 839 F.2d 1056 (5th Cir. 1988), prior to trial on the merits, this Court held that an injunction to stay a scheduled election was not an option available to the plaintiffs in this case. The Court reasoned that were the First District to be held violative of the Voting Rights Act, the results of any election held in the current district could be set aside. Nonetheless, Orleans Parish voters will suffer irreparable injury, if an election is held under what is later determined to be an illegal system, and that election is not set aside and a special election held at the earliest possible time. We believe that a decision in this case could avoid prejudice to all concerned -- the voters, the candidates who are deterred from running because of the district's composition, and finally, the winning candidate who must assume his or her position under a cloud of uncertainty and possibly run again in a special election. NINETY NINE HUDSON STREET, 16th FLOOR • (212) 219-1900 • NEW YORK, N.Y. 10013 Hon. Gilbert Ganucheau July 19, 1990 Page 2 We would appreciate your circulating a copy of this letter to members of the panel, Judges Higginbotham, Johnson and King. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Ver truly yours, ith Ree JR:aa CC: Counsel of record