Impropriety Claimed by NAACP Attorney News Clipping

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Impropriety claimed 
by NAACP attorney 

By SUSAN FINCH 
Personal and political considerations led a Justice Department official not to object to a 1981 plan to redraw Lou- isiana’s congressional districts, accord- ing to attorneys for five blacks who have attacked the Plan in court as racially discriminatory. 

The charge was leveled against Assistant Attorney General William Bradford Reynolds of the Justice Department's civil rights division in a Sworn statement by an NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney. Attorneys for Gov. David C. Treen claimed the alle- gation is based on “rankest hearsay.” Treen’s attorneys responded by ask- ing that the NAACP lawyer, C. Lani Guinier, be dismissed from the case on grounds that her “rash allegations of impropriety” have made it necessary for her to testify in the case, 
+ The reapportionment suit is sched- uled for trial Jan. 31 before a panel made up of U.S. District Judges Robert . Collins and Fred J. Cassibry and 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Henry Politz, 
Guinier worked as a special assistant to.the head of the civil rights division between 1977 and 1980, according to her affidavit. 

It is attached to the blacks’ request for banning any reference to a June 1982 letter from Reynolds posing no objegtion to the reapportionment plan enacted by the Louisiana Legislature under the federal Voting Rights Act. Attorneys for the blacks contend Bradford's ruling is inconsistent with the recommendation of Justice Depart- ment staff experts and “was made for partisan and personal reasons that were: contrary to the purposes of the Statute and the regulations of the Department.” 
The, blacks claim the reapportion- ment ‘plan’s split of Orleans Parish etween the Ist and 2nd congressional districts dilutes the voting strength of New Orleans blacks, 

The plan was adopted by the Legisla- ture after Gov. David C. Treen threat- $i ened to veto one that would have put New Orleans into one district. 
Attorneys for the blacks contend the Justice Department did not follow “regular procedures” in reviewing the plan for compliance with the Voting Rights Act. 

; They claim that at Reynolds’ request, a Justice Department letter seeking more information about the Plan from an assistant state attorney general was returned, and a substitute Was sent deleting questions about statements made by Treen. 
Guinier contends that before Reyn- olds decided not to object to the redis- tricting plan, he met several times with Treen, including on an overnight trip to Louisiana, and received a helj- copter ride, courtesy of the governor, from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, “I am informed and believe that Mr. Reynolds did not reimburse the State of Louisiana for his travel from Baton Rouge to New Orleans or for meals or other gratuities received from the gov- ernor during this trip,” Guinier said. Guinier said that based on her expe- rience in the Justice Department and information about Reynolds’ relation. ship with Treen, she believes Reynolds failed to object to the redistricting plan “because of personal and political cop- siderations unrelated to the purposes of the statute he was responsible for enforcing.” 

Attorneys for Treen say Guinier’s statements are “totally unsupported by “the record.” The attempt to keep out references to Reynolds’ decision is “nothing more than a last-minute tac- tic designed to poison this courts view of this litigation through rumor and innuendo,” they said, 
They contend the plaintiffs want to bar mention of Reynolds’ decision because his agency’s review of the plan established that it is not discriminatory in intent or effect. 

Raymond L. Mitchell rites Thursday Fuperal services for Raymond Lloyd Mitchell, a purser for the Delta Steam- ship Line, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Metairie funera) home of Lamana-Panno-Fallo, 1717 Veterans Memorial Blvd. 

Religious services will follow at 11:30.a.m. at St. Louis King of France Catholic Church. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. 

Mr. Mitchell died 
ball, Tex. He was 57. 

A native of New Orleans, he was employed by Delta Steamship Line from 1947 until his death, 
Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Essie Riche; and four brothers, John D. Mitchell Sr., James I. Hendricks and Humbert H. Hendricks, of New Orleans, and Thomas A. Hendricks of Birmingham, Ala, 

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