Plaintiffs’ Reply to Defendants’ Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction
Public Court Documents
February 11, 1998
5 pages
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Case Files, Cromartie Hardbacks. Plaintiffs’ Reply to Defendants’ Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, 1998. 6d1a8d56-e70e-f011-9989-002248226c06. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/528c3028-fa33-420c-9338-fa2365b0f94d/plaintiffs-reply-to-defendants-motion-to-strike-plaintiffs-motion-for-a-preliminary-injunction. Accessed November 19, 2025.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
RALEIGH DIVISION
F-335
Civil Acuon No 4.96-CV-104-BO(3)
MARTIN CROMARTIE, er al.,
Plainnffs,
PLAINTIFFS’ REPLY TO
DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO STRIKE
PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR A
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
VS.
JAMES B HUNT, IR, in his official capacity
as Governor of the State of North Carolina,
eral.,
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Defendants.
Plaintiffs replying 10 Defendants’ motion to strike Plainuffs’ mouon for preliminary
injuncuon respectfully show the Court:
1. When Plaintiffs Cromarue, Muse and former Plaintiff Weeks filed their complaint in
1996 the case was assigned to District Judge Howard but, although the complaint applied for
appointment of a three-judge district court. no appointment was made because of the stay in
proceedings pursuant to orders entered by the count with the consent of the partes.
5 When the amended complaint was filed on October 17. 1997, the plainuffs challenged
tha Srate's congressional redistricting plan enacted by the Gereeral Assembly cn March 2L. 1097
and as part of the challenge, the complaint apphed again for appointment of the three-judge
district court and moved again for declaratory and injunctive relief. including a preliminary
Injunclon.
3. The Defendants in their unswer did not in any way dispute that the case should be
heard by a three-judge court: and from the filing of that answer late in November, 1997. the
Plunutfs awaited the appointment of a thre2-judge district court. which they initially assumed
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would consist of Judge Howard and two other judges. Also from time to time. Plainuffs’ counsel
F-335
inquired 1n the office of the Clerk of Count and elsewhere as to whether the pane! had been
designated.
4. In January. 1998. the Plainuffs’ counsel was informed that the case would be
considered by a panel consisung of Chief Judge Boyle, Circuit Judge Ervin and Chiat ule
Voorhies.
5. Shonly thereafter, on January 30, 1998, Planufts filed a motion for preliminary
injunction 10 give notice that they were continuing [0 seek the relief that had been sought in the
original complaint and in the amended complaint, and thereafter, on February S, they filed a
motion for summary judgment to which were attached five affidavits, and at the same ume they
filed a brief in support of the mouon for summary judgment.
6. From the contents of the mouon for summary judgment, the affidavits and the brief, it
is apparent that they relate to and support the motion for preliminary injunction and sausty the
purposes of the Local Rule. Moreover, they provide adequate notice to the Defendants of
Plaintiffs’ basis for seeking the extraordinary relief of a preliminary 1njuncnon.
7 As 1s apparent from the pleadings and atfidavits filed by Plainuffs, the basis for their
seeking a preliminary injunction against the present plan 15 that.
a) Since January, 1992, North Carolina has conducted its congressional elections
under a redistricting plan which violates the Equal Protection Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment for reasons stated in Shaw v. Reno, 309 U.S. 630, 113
S'Ct 2816 (1993);
b) The unconsttutional redistricting plan hus been vigorously challenged from the
ourset und by its decision in Shaw v. Hunt, 116 S.Ct. 1894 (1996). on June 13,
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1996 the Supreme Court made clear that a new plan was necessary
c) The new redistricung plan enacted by the General Assembly on March 31. 1997,
clearly 1s derived from the unconstitutional 1992 plan and because of the close
relauonshup between the two pluns. the more recent plan is also consurtutionally
flawed.
d) From the statisucs recited in the affidavit of Lee Mortimer, as well as from the
facts recited in the other four affidavits, it 1s clear that race was a predominant
motive in drawing the boundaries of the First and Twelfth Congressional Districts,
as well as of other districts, and the State has offered no justification that will
survive the “strict scruliny’” test.
WHEREFORE. having responded to Defendants’ motion to strike, Plaintiffs respectfully
pray:
|. That for purposes of compliunce with the Local Rule, the Court treat the mouon for
summary judgment, affidavits and brief as having been filed nunc pro nc on January 30. 1998,
when the mouon for preliminary injunction was filed.
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_ That the Defendants’ mouon to strike be denied.
3 That the Coun proceed forthwith to hold such hearing. if any. 2s may uppear necessary
and grant a prel.munary injunction and a permanent 1n0juncLion against the conunued use by the
Defendants of the redistricting plan enacted 7 General Assembly on March 31, 1997.
Respectfully submitted. this the _// day of February. 1958.
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hn
Robinson O. Everett
Everett & Everett
N.C. State Bar No.: 1385
As Auorney for the Plainuffs
P.O. Box 586
Durham, NC 27702
Telephone: (919)-682-5691
Williams, Boger, Grady, Davis & Tittle, P.A.
by: vy 4 WH. He
"Martin B. McGee
State Bar No.: 22198 rT.
Auomeys for the Plainuffs
P.O. Box 810
Concord, NC 28026-0810
Telephone: (704)-782-1173
F-335
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
7-148 P.06/06 F-335
I ceruify that I have this day served the foregoing Pluinnuffs’ Reply to Defendants” Mouon
to Strike Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction on the Defendants by mailing them a
copy thereof, postage pre-paid, to the following addresses:
Mr. Edwin M. Speas, Jr, Esq.
Senior Deputy Attorney General
North Carolina Department of Jusuce
P.O. Box 629
Raleigh, NC 27602
Ms. Anita Hougkiss
Ferguson, Stein, Wallas, Adkins, Gresham, Sumter, P.A.
741 Kenilworth Avenue
Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28204
February 11, 1998 Cr il
Robinson O. Everett
Plainuff for the Attomeys
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