Correspondence from Reed to Ganucheau (Clerk)

Public Court Documents
July 19, 1990

Correspondence from Reed to Ganucheau (Clerk) preview

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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

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