Memorandum from Eileen K. McLoughlin to Adisa Douglas-Reese Re: Explanation of Differences in 1984 and 1985 Voter Registration Project Budgets

    Lesa,ue*iH.

MEMORANDUM
TO: Adisa Douglas-Reese

FROM: Eileen K. Mcloughlin

RE: ExplanaEion of differences
Voter Registration Project

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND
99 Hudson Street, New York,

EDUCATIONAL FUND. INC.
N.Y. 10013o (212) 21$'1900

April 18, 1985

in L984 and 1985
Budgets

There are four major differences in the 1984 and 1985 budgets.
I. Salaries:

In 1985 LDF g5oje-cls a reduction in payroll cosrs of $23,852.This is attributabre to the fact that ioe used a shotgunapproach to filing lawsuits in r9g4 and are noh, focu3ing ourefforts on specific cases. In 1984 we did not know hor"thecourts would receive challenges to registration barriersand we wanted.to impact as many locallties as possible be-fore the November elecEions. ifris year we are concentratingon cases where either t!" judge appears receptive to ourchallenge or where the -fggE- pattei-ir is condutive to provingdiscrimination and establish-ing 1..*. We are reducillt-o"i'staff commitment and increasin[ the involvement oi-.oBp"r"ti"gattorneys.

II. Expenditures for Cooperating Attorneys:
rn L984 LDF did not rely heavily on cooperating attorneys
because-we.L,ere ysing unrried l6gal thebries ,ila ," a;;e; tow-in preriminary injunctions and avoid going to tria1. rnalmost every case h7e fired, the judges-decfined to enterpreliminary judgements and sched[led ful1 hearings for I9g5.As a result, LDF needs the assistance of cooperaEing at_torneys in order to handle the case load

III. Expenditures for Expert Witnesses:

The 1985 budget increases the outray for experts by $9,000.

Contrihutions are d.eductible lor U.S. iatmne tar Wrposcs

Ihe NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE t EDUCATIONAL FUND is nol parl of the National Association lor the Advancement ot Colored People although it
was founded by il and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF has had lor over 25 years a separate Board, program, stall, oltice and budget.



-2-

In 1984 we expected judges to rule in our favor without full
evidentiary hearings and Eherefore spent very 1lttIe on
expert witnesses. We have found, not only that we must pro-
vide extensive proof, including expert testimony, in order
to prevail, but that we must commission experts to conduct
studies of registration practices because most states do not
keep adequaEe records.

IV. Overhead:
The overhead costs appear to be a new expense category,
however they are reflected in the 1984 budget underItMiscellaneous Expensesrr .