League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Council #4434 v. Morales Supplemental Brief on Rehearing En Banc of Plaintiff-Intervenor-Appellees
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April 19, 1993

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Brief Collection, LDF Court Filings. League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Council #4434 v. Morales Supplemental Brief on Rehearing En Banc of Plaintiff-Intervenor-Appellees, 1993. f9ad76d4-ba9a-ee11-be36-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/89596e5e-4de2-4d76-90bf-09991919afc1/league-of-united-latin-american-citizens-lulac-council-4434-v-morales-supplemental-brief-on-rehearing-en-banc-of-plaintiff-intervenor-appellees. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS JIM MATTOX L FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT BRIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES AS AMICUS CURIAE . , • ON REMAND FROM THE SUPREME COURT JOHN R. DUNNE Assistant Attorney General JESSICA DUNSAY SILVER MARK L. GROSS Attorneys Department of Justice P.O. BOX 66078 Washington, D.C (202) 514-2172 20035-6078 li It V>7-' ‘ •'TJVV* T y w / ’ TABLE OF CONTENTS INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT .... ARGUMENT: THE DISTRICT COURT MUST DETERMINE WHETHER AT-LARGE ELECTION OF TRIAL JUDGES IN TEXAS IS SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO A STRONG GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST, AND WHETHER THE WEIGHT OF THAT INTEREST IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE EXTENT OF PROVEN DILUTION ......... A. Congress Has Determined That Proof That An Electoral Process Advances Legitimate State Interests Is Insufficient To Maintain A Process Which Results In Dilution ......... II. B. When Asserting the Strength of the State's Interest, The Court Should Determine Whether it Has Been Consistently Applied and Whether There Are Alternative Methods Of Election Which May Advance The State's Interest But Result In Less Dilution .... THE CASE SHOULD BE REMANDED FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE STATE'S INTEREST UNDER THE CORRECT STANDARD .... A. The Importance Of The State's Interest Is An Issue Of Fact To Be Assessed By The District Court As Part Of The Totality of Circumstances ........... B. The Record Does Not Permit Only The Conclusion That The State Has A Strong Interest In Its Method of Electing Trial Judges ...... CONCLUSION ...... - l - 1 1 PAGE 3 3 8 10 11 13 20 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CASES: g-Q-lden v * City of Mobile. 571 F.2d 238 (5th Cir.1978) ............................... Bradley v. Swearingen. 525 S.W.2d 289 (Tex. Civ.App. 1975) .................................... Chisom v. Edwards, 839 F.2d 1056, cert, denied, 488 U.S. 955 (1988) ................................. chisom v - Roemer. Ill S. Ct. 2354 (1991) ......... Clark v. Jeter. 486 U.S. 456 (1988) .............. Gregory v. Ashcroft. I l l s . Ct. 2 3 9 5 ( 1 9 9 1 ) ...... Hendrix v. Joseph. 559 F.2d 1265 (5th Cir. 1977) .. Houston Lawyers Ass'n v . Attorney General of Tevas. Ill S. Ct. 2376 (1991) ...... ........... .......[ Icicle Foods v. Worthington. 475 U.S. 709 (1986) .. i?61971^n V * ~grniqari/ 467 S.W . 2d 621 (Tex. Civ. App. LULAC v. Clements, 902 F.2d 293 (5th Cir. 1990) ... &artm v . Ajjain, 658 F. Supp. 1183 (S.D. Miss.1987) ............................ Clipper v. U-Haul Co. . 516 S.W.2d 470 ............. On; v. Orr/ 440 U.S. 268 (1979) .................. Pickett v. Brown. 462 U.S. 1 (1987) .............. Pullman Standard v. Swint, 456 U.S. 273 (1982) Robinson v. Comm'rs Court Anderson Countv. 505 F.2d 674 (5th Cir. 1974) ............................. Borers v. Lodge. 458 U.S. 613 (1982) ............. South Carolina v. Katzenbach. 383 U.S. 301 (1966) .................................. Thornburg v. Singles. 478 U.S. 30 (1986) ......... 3 14 9 8 6 , 9 8 9 1 , 6 , 11, 1 2 , 19 11 14 19 14 14 10, 11 9 11 3 7 3 passim PAGE - ii CASES (cont'd^; PAGE Wallace v. House, 515 F.2d 619 (5th Cir. 1975), vac. on other grounds, 425 U.S. 947 (1976) .... 4 Wengler v. Druqqists Mutual Ins. Co. , 4 4 6 U.S. 1 4 p(1980) ............... Whitcomb v. Chavis. 408 u.s. too. (1971) .......... y 5 White v. Reqester. 412 U.S. 7ss (1973) ........... 5 Z_jmmer v. McKeithen, 485 F.2d 1297 (5th Cir. 1973) aff'd sub nom, East Carroll Parish v. Marshall. 424 U.S. 636 (1976) ...... O T A Zulauf v. State, 591 S.W.2d 869 1979) .............. (Tex. Crim. App. t / 4 CONSTITUTION AND STATUTES: 1 4 Texas Constitution, Article V Section 7a (i) (1985) ....... Section 18(a) (1985) ...... l o 1 *7 Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1973, Section 2 ............ 1 / Age Discrimination in Employment U.S.C. 621 et seq......... Act of 1967, 29 passim n MISCELLANEOUS: / Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a) ........ S. Rep. No. 417, 97th Cong., 2d Sess. (1982) . 3, 4, 5, 12 iii IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 90-8014 LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees v. JIM MATTOX, et al. , Defendants-Appellants APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS BRIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES AS AMICUS CURIAE ON REMAND FROM THE SUPREME COURT INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES This case addresses the application of the dilution analysis of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1973, to elected trial court judges. The United States has primary responsibility for enforcement of Section 2, and this Court's decision will be important to those responsibilities. The United States filed amicus briefs in this case before a panel of this Court and before the en banc Court, and presented oral argument before the en banc Court. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT Houston Lawyers,., Ass'n v. Attorney General of Texas, m s. Ct. 2376 (1991), holds that a state's interest in its method of electing trial court judges is a factor which a court must consider under the "totality of circumstances" test for judging vote dilution. The issues before this Court involve how to consider the state's interest within that framework. 2 When Congress amended Section 2 in 1982, it established that elimination of racially dilutive electoral systems was of such importance that electoral systems supported by race-neutral and legitimate governmental interest nonetheless must be abandoned in favor of systems which do not dilute minority voting. Congress relied in large measure on this Court's opinion in Zimmer v. McKeithen, 485 F.2d 1297, 1305 (5th Cir. 1973), aff'd sub nom. gast Carroll Parish School Bd. v. Marshall. 424 U.S. 636 (1976), which stated that courts should determine whether the state's electoral scheme is supported by "strong" state interests before weighing that interest against proof of dilution. With respect to elected judges, the state must show that its electoral system advances "strong" state interests; only after that is proven, may the court weigh those interests against the extent of dilution. The plaintiff has the burden of proving dilution. At the same time, however, proof of dilution creates a presumption that the electoral system should not stand. The state has the burden of rebutting that presumption with evidence of a strong state interest which justifies the dilution. The plaintiff may rebut the state's proof with evidence demonstrating that the interests are not strong because, for example, the electoral schemes are not consistently applied, or that interest can be advanced through an alternative electoral system. If the court concludes that the state interest is strong, it must then weigh it against proven dilution under the totality of circumstances standard. 3 ARGUMENT I THE DISTRICT COURT MUST DETERMINE WHETHER AT-LARGE ELECTION OF TRIAL JUDGES IN TEXAS IS SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO A STRONG GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST, AND WHETHER THE WEIGHT OF THAT INTEREST IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE EXTENT OF PROVEN DILUTION A. Congress Has Determined That Proof That An Electoral Process Advances Legitimate State Interests Is Insufficient To Maintain A Process Which Results In Dilution When enacting and amending the Voting Rights Act, Congress determined that the elimination of voting discrimination and racially unfair voting practices is vital to remedying the effects of decades of racial discrimination. South Carolina v. Katzenb^ch, 383 U.S. 301, 315 (1966). In describing the results test, the Senate Report, accompanying the 1982 Amendments, stated that an electoral scheme supported by "legitimate" state interests nonetheless must be altered where its use results in' ■ the dilution of minority voting strength. "[E]ven a consistently applied practice * * * would not negate a plaintiff's showing through other factors [derived from Zimmer v. McKeithen- 485 F.2d 1297 (5th Cir. 1973), aff'd sub nom. East Carroll Parish v. Marshall, 424 U.S. 636 (1976)] that the challenged practice denies minorities fair access to the [electoral] process." S. Rep. No. 417, 97th Cong., 2d Sess. 29, n.117 (1982). A number of the cases the Senate Report cited (id. at 32) , as examples of proper application of the dilution inquiry, invalidated voting procedures despite the fact that these procedures advanced legitimate governmental aims. See, e.a.. Robinson v. Commissioner's Court Anderson Countv. 505 F.2d 674, 680 (5th Cir. 1974). In Bolden v. City of Mobile. 571 F.2d 238, 4 244 (5th Cir. 1978), for example, this Court stated that while "tcJity-wide representation is a legitimate interest * * * the district court was warranted in finding that the city's interests in its at-large plan did not outweigh the strong showings by the appellees under the other Zimmer criteria." Zimmer itself referred to consideration of a "strong state policy divorced from the maintenance of racial considerations" (emphasis added), 485 F.2d at 1305, as a factor a court may consider when assessing whether an electoral scheme was dilutive. The dilutive effect of at-large elections on minority voting strength was of considerable importance to Congress in 1982. Congress knew that many localities had enacted at-large systems for legitimate governmental reasons, and no one disputed that there was legitimate governmental support for at-large elections, see Wallace v. House, 515 F.2d 619, 633 (5th Cir. 1975), vacated on other grounds, 425 U.S. 947 (1976), and explicitly relied on a list of 23 lower court decisions that applied dilution principles. S. Rep. No. 417, supra, at 32. All involved legislative or executive positions, and the courts held that even where race-neutral grounds for the at-large elections were asserted, where the electoral scheme was dilutive, single-member districting was required. In applying Section 2 to the election of judges, however, analysis should be informed, by the fact that the role of judges differs from those of legislative and executive officials. In balancing the strength of race-neutral state policies against evidence of vote dilution under the "totality of circumstances," it is obviously pertinent to consider the nature of the office at 5 issue. The most obvious difference is that while legislators, and, perhaps to a lesser extent, executive officials are expected to advance and protect the interest of their constituents, and are elected to do just that, judges are expected to be fair and impartial. Thus, "responsiveness" to minority voters is not a relevant concern in evaluating judicial elections. The important state interest in ensuring a fair and impartial judiciary must also be carefully considered in evaluating a state's decision to elect judges at-large. The State may believe that judges should be discouraged from thinking of themselves as representing only a portion of a particular jurisdiction. In addition, a state may determine that small electoral districts must be avoided in order to prevent a relatively discrete segment of the jurisdiction from controlling the election of judges. A state may determine that fairness, ' - impartiality, and public confidence are significantly aided where PeoPle who may generally appear before a particular judge have a voice in the election of that judge. Considering the State's interest — which may be different in both nature and magnitude for the at-large election of judges than the at-large election of legislators — is therefore consistent with the principle in the case law and legislative history that "the question whether the political processes are 'equally open' depends upon a searching practical evaluation of the 'past and present reality' and on a 'functional' view of the political process." Thornburg v. Ginqles. 478 U.S. 30, 45 (1986) (quoting S. Rep. No. 417, supra, at 30 & n.120). See White v. Reaester. 412 U.S. 755, 766-767 (1973); Whitcomb v. Chavis. 403 U.S. 124, 6 149-155 (1971). Although state interest in at-large elections must be given greater consideration with respect to judicial elections, it need be considered only if such elections are necessary to maintain this fundamental nature of the judicial offices. Therefore, in order for the state's interest in electing its judges at-large to be weighed against proof of dilution, a state or locality must show that its practice is supported by "strong" or compelling," not merely "legitimate," governmental aims. The method the Supreme Court employs to review state interests when it applies mid-level constitutional scrutiny provides some guidance in determining whether the state has demonstrated a strong interest in its method of electing judges. The substantive measure exacted in mid-level constitutional scrutiny whether a state has established that its practice is "substantially related to an important governmental interest," v * — ter' 486 U *S. 456, 461 (1988) — provides guidance on the inquiry the Court makes to determine whether a state has a governmental interest greater than "legitimate." Unlike the inquiry in mid-level scrutiny, however, even were the state to prove that its interest is strong, and that its method of election is substantially related to that strong interest, the state's interest does not automatically prevail under Section 2, but rather is to be assessed as one of the factors in the totality of the circumstances. As the Supreme Court stated in Houston Lawyers Ass'n (ill s. Ct. 2376, 2381 (1991) ; emphasis added), "Because the State's interest in maintaining an at-large, district-wide electoral scheme for 7 single-member offices is merely one factor to be considered in evaluating the 'totality of circumstances,' that interest rinoc; not automatically, and in every case, outweigh proof of racial vote dilution.'1' As the analysis and weighing of the totality of circumstances requires "an intensely local appraisal," Gincrles. 478 U.S. at 79 (quoting Rogers v. Lodge. 458 U.S. 6 1 3 , 622 ( 1 9 8 2 ) ), no simple rule will govern all factual records. The State asserts, based on Gregory v. Ashcroft. Ill s . Ct. 2 3 9 5 ( 1 9 9 1 ) , that its method of electing judges is protected from federal intrusion by doctrines of federalism; because Congress failed to specify that the dilution test of Section 2 applies to judges, the State asserts, Congress has left undisturbed the state's constitutional prerogatives respecting the choice of electoral schemes for judges, and so its choice of electing judges at-large necessarily survives scrutiny. Gregory offers- - the state no protection here. In Gregory, the Court held that Congress, when it amended the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to include public employees' did not unambiguously state its intention to reach the retention of state judges. That sort of ambiguity is not present in the Voting Rights Act, however. The Voting Rights Act is clearly intended to affect state prerogatives on the method of electing all public officials, including judges. The Supreme Court's decision in Chisom v. Roemep, ill s . Ct. 2354 ( 1 9 9 1 ) , specifically held that Congress intended the dilution test to apply to all elected officials, including elected judges. It is Chisom and the Supreme Court's decision here which govern. 8 B. When Assessing The Strength Of The State's Interest, The Court Should Determine Whether It Has Been Consistently Applied And Whether There Are Alternative Methods Of Election Which May Advance The State's Interest But Result In Less Dilution. In a voting case such as this one, once the state proves that the at-large method of election of trial judges is substantially related to strong state interests, the plaintiffs may show either that the state does not consistently advance that interest in all areas of state law, suggesting that the interest is not so substantial as the state now asserts, or that the interest, even if it is strong and consistently maintained, may be achieved by electoral methods which do not dilute minority voting strength.-1/ Plaintiffs may demonstrate that the state's interest is not consistently honored in state laws or practices, suggesting that it is not a strong interest.-2/ For example, in v * 5̂ ter, supra, a Pennsylvania statute provided that an" • illegitimate child, before seeking support from the father, must file a paternity action, and that all such paternity actions ordinarily must be brought within six years of birth. The Supreme Court held, inter alia, that Pennsylvania officials failed to show that the six year statute of limitations was substantially related to the state's interest in "avoiding the litigation of stale or fraudulent claims," id. at 464, citing a „ . JVld®nce that the at-large system was only recently adopted would undercut a state's assertion that its method advances a strong state interest. See, e.q., Hendrix v. Joseph. 559 F.2d prove till ihth Jrlr:.1977)• In addition, where a plaintiff can prove that the adoption or maintenance of the state's electoral system was motivated by racial discrimination, the state's interest would be due no deference. ^ Administrative convenience is not a strong state interest ^ n^ler v * Druggists Mutual Ins. Co.. 446 U.S. 142, 152 (1980). 9 number of instances where Pennsylvania law "permits the issue of paternity to be litigated more than six years after the birth of an illegitimate child." See also Pickett v. Brown. 462 U.S. 1, 14-15 (1983) , where the Court, using a similar analysis, held that Tennessee's statute limiting paternity actions to two years a^ter birth as a precondition to a support action for illegitimate children, failed because other provisions of state law ignored the two-year limit, undercutting the state's argument that the limit was important to eliminating fraudulent claims. In addition, plaintiffs may demonstrate that the state's interest may be protected by an alternative electoral scheme that reduces or eliminates the dilutive effect on minority voting strength. In those instances, the electoral scheme is not substantially related to the strong interest. For example, in v. Orr, 440 U.S. 268 (1979), an Alabama statute provided that husbands, but not wives, may be required to pay alimony. The state, in defending the statute, asserted that one aim of the Act was to provide for needy spouses, and assumed that sex could be used as a "proxy" for need. Id^ at 280. The Court, recognizing that "assisting needy spouses is a legitimate and important governmental objective," nevertheless held the statute unconstitutional, noting that there were other means for the state to determine which spouses were in fact needy, with little added inconvenience to the state. Id̂ _ at 280-282. For example, even if the state proves both that maintaining the linkage between a court's electoral and jurisdictional boundaries strongly advances the state's interest in the accountability of its judges, and that maintaining such 10 accountability advances other substantial interests, it may be that districts smaller than the county-wide districts which now exist can be created which will maintain accountability but remedy dilution. Only after such proof has been received can the court accurately assess the strength of the state's asserted interest. If the court finds that the state's interest is strong and cannot be achieved in some other way, it should balance that interest against proven dilution. Congress has created a presumption against electoral schemes which dilute minority voting strength. For that reason, the burden of proving a strong state interest substantially related to the practice in question is on the state. Again, that is analogous to the state burden under a constitutional analysis. The state's burden is not met by a simple assertion of interest, but must be proven by reliable evidence. After the state's ‘ - evidence fully defines its interests, the plaintiffs should be given the opportunity to demonstrate that the interest either is not sufficiently important, based on the facts of the case, to maintain the dilutive practice, or that the interest can be achieved in a way which does not result in dilution. 11 THE CASE SHOULD BE REMANDED FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE STATE'S INTEREST UNDER THE CORRECT STANDARD The district court's assessment of the strength of the state's interest is largely a question of fact, not of law, requiring the district court to make an informed local appraisal of the appropriate facts. While the record before this Court, in our view, does not permit only the conclusion that the state has a strong interest in its method of electing trial judges, see 11 Pullman-Standard v. Swint. 456 U.S. 273, 292 (1982), it is also clear that the district court improperly assessed the evidence. As this Court defers to findings of fact based on proper legal standards, a remand is necessary to permit the district court to make an informed assessment about the strength of the state's interest. See Icicle Seafoods. Inc, v. Worthington. 475 U.S. 709, 714 (1986). It may also be necessary on remand for the court to allow the defendants to introduce evidence demonstrating that the State's interests are legitimate and important that this defendants did not introduce at trial due to the district court's erroneous view of the law. The district court should therefore be left free to determine in the first instance whether the record should be reopened so that such evidence can be adduced. A. The Importance Of The State's Interest Is An Issue Of Fact To Be Assessed By The District Court As Part Of The Totality Of Circumstances The Supreme Court, in its decision in Houston Lawyers Ass'n. stated that the state's interest in its method of electing trial judges is but one of the factors the district court must assess when it determines whether, under the "totality of circumstances," the electoral process results in racial dilution. The Court stated, "We deliberately avoid any evaluation of the merits of the concerns expressed in Judge Higginbotham's concurring opinion because we believe they are matters that are relevant either to an analysis of the totality of the circumstances that must be considered in an application of the results test embodied in §2, as amended, or to a consideration of possible remedies in the event a violation is proved * * * 12 111 S. Ct. at 2380. The Court further explained, "[T]he State's interest in maintaining an electoral system — in this case, Texas' interest in maintaining the link between a district judge's jurisdiction and the area of residency of his or her voters is a legitimate factor to be considered by courts among the "totality of circumstances" in determining whether a §2 violation has occurred." id. at 2381. In Thornburg v. Singles, 478 U.S. 30 (1986), the Supreme Court stated that the determination of the "totality of circumstances" is a finding of fact subject to the "clearly erroneous" standard of appellate review. "We reaffirm our view that the clearly erroneous test of Rule 52(a) is the appropriate standard for appellate review of a finding of vote dilution." 478 U.S. at 79. The Court noted the importance of the "intensely local appraisal" and "searching practical evaluation of the 'past and present reality'" (ibid., quoting S. Rep. No. 417, surra. at 30) the district courts perform when they determine whether, and to what extent, a particular plan dilutes minority voting strength. Id_̂ at 79. Thus, a district court's finding about the importance of that interest is a finding of fact subject to the "clearly erroneous" standard of Fed. R. civ. P. 52(a). "[T]he application of the clearly erroneous standard to the ultimate findings of vote dilution preserves the benefit of the trial court's particular familiarity with the indigenous political reality without endangering the rule of law." ibid. At the same time, the Supreme Court stated that a district court's application of incorrect legal standards to its assessment of the facts would require a reviewing court to apply 13 a legal error standard. The choice of the standard to evaluate the state's interest is certainly a question of law. The Court has made clear that the totality of the circumstances test applies and that the state interest is one factor to balance against proof of dilution. If the district court has used the proper legal standard to assess the weight of the state's interest, the conclusion it reaches after balancing is factual. B. The Record Does Not Permit Only The Conclusion That The State Has A Strong Interest In Its Method Of Electing Trial Judges The interests which the state asserted were advanced by linking a judge's jurisdictional and electoral boundaries, were: (1) insuring popular accountability by making judges electorally responsible to those within their jurisdiction, (2) avoiding bias and the appearance of bias caused by small electoral districts, and (3) administrative advantages of at-large elections, * - including the use of specialized courts. 1. At trial, two of defendants' witnesses testified that it was important for a trial judge to be "accountable" to all voters in the county. Professor Champagne stated that at-large elections provided greater accountability of the judge to county voters, so that people who feel they were wronged by a particular judge may vote against that judge (Tr. 4-143). Texas Supreme Court Chief Judge Thomas Phillips asserted that at-large elections assured that judges "ought to be accountable to those people who can be hailed into their Court" (Tr. 5-120). Texas does not consistently adhere to this principle, however. Texas justice of the peace courts, which are lower level trial courts, are elected from sub-county "precincts" while 14 having jurisdiction over the entire county.-2/ in addition, Texas c°urts actually have jurisdiction over cases arising beyond the county. Parties can, by agreement, give a county court venue over a case which does not arise within the county. See Nipper v. UrHaul Co., 516 S.W.2d 467, 470 (Tex. Civ. App. 1974)? Jepnigan v. Jerniaan. 467 S.W. 2d 621 (Tex. Civ. App. 1971). Accordingly, Texas recognizes that trial judges may have jurisdiction over people who do not reside in the county, undermining the argument that keeping the electoral and jurisdictional areas coterminous is an important state interest.4/ Under Texas practice, individuals commonly are before judges in counties in which they neither live nor vote. In addition, as Chief Judge Phillips acknowledged, in Texas, district court judges "often" are called to sit in other counties to help with docket control (Tr. 5-120), and the residents of the county in the subdistrict from which the justice of the peace is elected is used for venue purposes, justices of the peace can exercise jurisdiction throughout the county. "[A] justice of the mrec?nc?Ur S** Jurisdiction.to try a casewhich irose in anotSe? precinct. Bradley v. Swearingen. 525 S.W.2d 280, 282 (Tex Civ App. 1975). See also Zulauf v. State. 591 S.W.2d 869, 872 & n 5’ (Tex. Crim. App. 1979). ' 7?Itin V: -JIafn', 658.F* SuPP- 1183, 1195-1196 (S.D. Miss.'' the ̂ court adopted a single-member district remedy for some Mississippi trial judges who were elected at-large in racially dilutive elections,, after finding that Mississippi already elected some other judges from areas smaller than the court's jurisdiction. The court there stated fid, at 1195): Although the state has adopted the policy of the post system of electing judges in multi-member judicial districts above the justice court level, it long ago adopted the policy of single-member electoral districts for justice court judges. The state also has the policy of judges deciding cases which may originate outside their election districts. 15 which the judge temporarily sits have no electoral recourse against that judge. in practice, many litigants appear before district judges over whom they have no electoral control. In addition, none of the witnesses in this case explained precisely why this county-wide "accountability" was an important state interest. The witnesses acknowledged that there would still be voter "accountability" were judges elected from areas smaller than the county (Tr. 4-143). Mr. Champagne acknowledged that accountability is not perfect even under the present system; he stated that "I think the idea of judicial accountability is a Judge who acts improperly will have the [electoral] sword fall. In reality it doesn't always work that way, of course. And sometimes the sword falls on Judges even though there is no impropriety" (Tr. 4-141). In our view, the evidence discussed above undermines the contention that county-wide "accountability" is important to the proper selection of district judges, or that insuring a measure of electoral accountability is significantly defeated by dividing the county into electoral districts. Were the state to show that maintaining identical electoral and judicial boundaries is a strong state interest, the plaintiffs should be permitted to introduce plans which may serve that interest and still eliminate, or lessen, the amount of dilution of the present system. The Texas Constitution does not require the county-wide election of the district judges at issue here, but permits the voters to decide to elect them from sub county districts. see Tex. Const, art. V, §7a(i) (1985). m fact, Professor Champagne testified that county lines were used to define electoral boundaries for trial judges "simply [because] 16 county Government has been, essentially since the days of the Texas Revolution, has been the way that governmental services are primarily delivered to people of the State" (Tr. 4-138) Accordingly, there may be ways to divide large counties into sub county districts, with each sub-county district having its own jurisdictional and electoral boundaries, which might lessen the extent of dilution the present county-wide system causes. In fact, at trial Judge Phillips, asserting opposition to any plan which would give a judge a smaller electoral than jurisdictional boundary, stated "If we wanted to go to a system where the judge had primary venue responsibility over an area smaller than the county, I don't know that I would have an objection to electing judges from a smaller [area] than a county" (Tr. 5-78) 2. The state and the state district court judges who intervened also put on witnesses who testified that creating ‘ - subdistricts was inadvisable because it could lead to perceptions of judicial bias and undue influence by special interests.-^ The state judges who testified expressed fear of sub-county In rejecting the weight of the testimony regarding the effects of small electoral districts, the district court appears to have too narrowly characterized that testimony. The district court stated (Op. 75-76), "State Defendants and Defendant- Intervenor Wood argued that (1) judges elected from smaller districts would be more susceptible to undue influence bv ?hIa21Zed ?ri^e *.* * *" While the testimony at trial did raise the organized crime" possibility, see testimony of District Judge Entz at Tr. 4-82-83, it also raised the possibility that smaller electoral districts could lead to pressures from other sources For example, District Judge Mark Davidson testified at *east ln Harris County, electing judges from districts smailer than county-wide could place more "political pressures on th* JU?ge (Tr* 3~265)• Professor Champagne opposed creating subdistricts because "[theoretically the larger the population you serve the more insulated a Judge would be from special interest group pressure" (Tr. 4-146). See also Tr. 4-191 testimony of District Judge Carolyn Wright. 17 electoral districts. Texas' Constitution, however, permits voters to choose sub-county districts, and it is difficult for the state to argue that sub-county districts are incompatible with a fair and impartial judiciary. In addition, justices of the peace are elected from areas smaller than a county, and those districts, in some counties, are significantly smaller than the sub-county districts which could be created as a remedy in this case.£/ Similarly, the concern that a judge elected from a small electorate is more susceptible to improper pressures from special interests has not stopped Texas from creating judgeships in some counties with relatively small populations. Harris County, for example, has a population of nearly 2.8 million people and 59 district judges. Even if Harris County were to be divided into 59 subdistricts, a remedy which we do not contend this record requires, each district would contain approximately 47,000 ’ - people. There are currently judges elected county-wide from counties with populations of similar size. By our count,!/ 96 of Texas' 362 district courts are elected from areas of less than 100,000 people, and 52 of those are elected from areas of 50,000 or less. This figure questions the importance of a state concern that small electoral districts endanger an impartial judiciary. Of course, as long as a state or locality chooses to elect ^ For example, the counties at issue in this case run from wit^lO^OOO7 ' uidern?Jrl£ 2‘8 million PeoPle' to Midland County, ^ o f ' 000* Under the Texas Constitution, counties with as few “ ?°'°°° P^Ple *ay be divided into at leak four" Ind as many as eight, subdistricts, for the justice of the peace elections. Permits counties with as few as 18,000 people to be i r 5?tice of the peace pre4inctI- q+^fJUnty P°Pulftions were determined by reference to United States Department of Commerce, 1990 Census of Population - Texas. 18 its judges, there always will be the potential for the appearance of conflicts of interest because elected judges are always accountable to voters. At present, judges in these counties are elected by a white majority. There is also significant question whether on this record the state has shown that changing the method of election will increase the potential for bias or conflicts, rather than simply making some judges more accountable to minority voters. Judge Entz acknowledged that he was not aware of any allegations of unfairness or suggestions that white litigants were not treated fairly by minority judges elected from sub-county Justice of the Peace precincts (Tr. 4-90) Accordingly, it is not at all clear that the state demonstrated a consistent state interest in avoiding small judicial districts. 3. Several witnesses discussed .the administrative advantages of the present system of electing judges county-wide. The witnesses referred to the county-wide records retention, the fact that cases are assigned randomly to any judge within the county (thereby aiding docket control), and county-wide jury empaneling, as examples of administrative conveniences of the present system (see Tr. 3-257, 264; 4-257, 261). These concerns, however, go to retaining county-wide jurisdiction, rather than the method of electing judges, and there was no indication that a remedy for dilution could not incorporate these administrative conveniences. In addition, while there was testimony that applying the dilution test of Section 2 could disrupt the system Texas has in many counties of having "specialized courts" (Tr. 3- 266), a remedy for dilution could easily maintain the use of specialty courts in large counties and still fully remedy the 19 <̂ ^ u^ on ky• example, dividing the specialty courts among districts and having each district elect each type of judge. 4. The original panel decision in this case held that "the state's powerful interest in its structural arrangement of individual trial judges outweighs the potential amelioration of any dilution of minority interests achievable by subdistricting." LUMC v. Clements, 902 F.2d 293, 308 (5th Cir. 1990). This conclusion, in our view, is premature. First, we believe the panel's conclusion was affected significantly by the panel's view that trial judges occupy "single-person offices" and that such offices necessarily survive the dilution inquiry. The Supreme Court clearly rejected that theory in Houston Lawyers Ass'n. Second, there is no indication that the panel was weighing the "totality of circumstances," but was merely announcing that, as a matter of law, trial judges may be elected at-large regardless’ of evidence of dilution or the strength of the state's interest or alternative methods of election. As discussed above, there is much yet to consider before holding both that the state's interest in maintaining identical jurisdictional and electoral boundaries for trial judges is strong, and that the state has proven that electing trial judges at-large, by county, is significantly related to that aim, and that there are no less dilutive methods of accomplishing that objective. Both the district court, and the panel, in our view, failed to perform the "intensely local" weighing of the evidence Congress requires, and the case must be remanded for full presentation and weighing of the evidence. The panel's conclusion that the record sustains the method of election as a matter of law improperly implements 20 the dilution test and is simply premature. CONCLUSION This case should be remanded to the district court for further proceedings. Respectfully submitted, JOHN R . DUNNE Assistant Attorney General JESSICA DUNSAY SILVER MARK L. GROSS Attorneys Department of Justice P.O. Box 66078 Washington, D.C. 20035-6078 (202) 514-2172 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that two copies of the foregoing Brief For The United States As Amicus Curiae On Remand From the Supreme Court were mailed to each of the following addressees: Rolando L. Rios, Esq. 201 N. St. Mary's St., #521 San Antonio, TX 78205 Gabrielle K. McDonald, Esq. Matthews & Branscomb 301 Congress Avenue #2050 Austin, TX 78701 John L. Hill, Jr., Esq. Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon 3300 Texas Commerce Tower Houston, TX 77002 David R. Richards, Esq. 600 West 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 Seagal V. Wheatley, Esq. Donald R. Philbin, Jr., Esq. Oppenheimer, Rosenberg Et A1 711 Navarro, #600 San Antonio, TX 78205 Ken Oden, Esq. Travis County Atty's Office Stokes Building, 3rd Floor 314 West 11th Street ■ Austin, TX 78707 James Greenleaf Boyle, Esq. 801 Congress Suite #250 Austin, TX 78701 E. Brice Cunningham, Esq. 777 S. R.L. Thornton Frwy. Suite 121 Dallas, TX 75203 Darrell Frank Smith, Esq. 10999 Interstate 10 #905 San Antonio, TX 78230 2 Susan Finkelstein, Esq. 405 N. St. Mary's Suite 910 San Antonio, TX 78205 C. Lani Guinier, Esq. University of Pennsylvania School of Law 3400 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Pamela C. Karlan, Esq. University of Virginia School of Law Charlottesville, VA 22901 R. James George, Jr., Esq. Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody 2300 NCNB Tower 515 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78767 by overnight mail: Joseph E. Clements, Esq. Porter & Clements 700 Louisiana Street 3500 RepublicBank Center Houston, TX 77002 Edward B. Cloutman, III, Esq. Mullinax, Wells, Baab & Cloutman 3301 Elm St. Dallas, TX 75226-1637 William L. Garrett, Esq. Garrett Thompson, Esq. 8300 Douglas, Suite 800 Dallas, TX 75225 Dan Morales, Esq. Renea Hicks, Esq. Price Daniel Building 209 West 14th Austin, TX 78701 3 Sherrilyn Ifill, Esq. NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund 99 Hudson St. 16th Floor New York, NY 10013 Robert H. Mow, Jr., Esq. Bobby M. Rubarts, Esq. David C. Godbey, Esq. Hughes & Luce 2800 Momentum Place 1717 Main Street Dallas, TX 75201 This 15th day of October, 1991. MARK L. GROSS Attorney I n th e BUUb (Emtrt nf Appeals F ob the F ieth Circuit No. 25172 E verline Lewis and Margaret T russ, Appellants, v. The H o u sin g A u t h o r it y of t h e C it y of T alladega , A l a b a m a , et al, Appellees. ap pe a l from t h e u n it e d states d istric t court FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA RECORD ON APPEAL Peter A. Hall Orzell Billingsley, Jr. 1630 Fourth Avenue, North Birmingham, Alabama Jack Greenberg Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Gabrielle A. K irk 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 Attorneys for Appellants I N D E X PAGE Complaint.............................................. ......................... -.... 1 Appendix A Annexed to Complaint ........ ............. - 10 Appendix B Annexed to Complaint -................— 11 Appendix C Annexed to Complaint ....................... 12 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order ..................... 13 Motion for Preliminary Injunction ............................... - 16 Order for Hearing on Preliminary Injunction............. 19 Order dated February 10, 1967 ...................................... 20 B on d ....................................................................................... 23 Order dated February 20, 1967 ...................................... 25 Motion to Dismiss .............................................................. 27 Motion in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dis miss .........................................................-......................... 32 Supplemental Motion to Dismiss .................................. 34 Exhibit “A ” Annexed to Foregoing Motion ......... 36 Exhibit “B” Annexed to Foregoing Motion ......... 37 Order of Dismissal ..... 38 Motion for Relief From an Order 40 ii PAGE Order on Motion for Relief ................................ ........... 42 Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental Mo tion to Dismiss ......................................................... ...... 43 Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion in Re sponse to Defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dis miss ............................... ................................................... 45 Order on Motion for Relief From the Order of June 2,1967 .......................................................................... 49 Notice of Appeal ...... 52 Clerk’s Certificate .............................................................. 54 I n th e Inttefr Alette Itstrirt Cmirt F oe t h e Noethebn Disteict of A labama E astebn Division Civil A ction No. CA 67-106 E vebline Lewis and Mabgabet Tbuss, v. Plaintiffs, The H ousing A hthoeity oe the City of Talladega, A labama, and W illiam J. Muneoe, individually and in his capacity as Executive Director of the Hous ing Authority of the City of Talladega, Defendants. Complaint I The jurisdiction of this Court is invoked pursuant to Title 28, TJ.S.C. §§ 1343(3), 1343(4) and 2201. This is a suit for injunctive relief authorized by Title 42, TJ.S.C. § 1983 to he commenced by any citizen of the United States or other persons within the jurisdiction thereof to redress the deprivation under color of statute, ordinance, regula tion, custom or usage of the state of rights, privileges and immunities secured by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. The rights, privileges and immunities sought herein to be redressed are those secured by the due process 2 and equal protection clauses of the Constitution of the United States and by the United States Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1401 et seq. and regulations promulgated thereunder and by § 601 of the Civil Eights Act of 1964. This is also a suit for a declaratory judgment of rights established under the above enumerated statutes and con stitutional provisions. II This is a proceeding for an injunction enjoining the defendants from: A. Continuing to enforce its policy of automatically evicting any family living in any one of its public housing projects if a member of that family has or is expecting an illegitimate child; B. Continuing to evict or threatening to evict tenants living in any one of its public housing projects without indicating the reasons for the eviction and without giving them a fair hearing on the alleged charges for the eviction; C. Instituting any proceedings to evict or further threatening to evict plaintiffs and the classes they repre sent ; D. Continuing to segregate the said public housing projects on the basis of race or color; E. Failing to comply with federal regulations relating to the operation of public housing projects constructed with the aid of federal funds; in particular, those regula tions that require that notices be posted stating that all projects are open to all applicants regardless of race or color. Complaint 3 This is also a proceeding for a declaratory judgment that defendants’ aforementioned policies and practices are violative of rights secured by the due process and equal protection clauses of the Constitution of the United States, by the United States Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1401 et seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder and by § 601 of the Civil Bights Act of 1964. III Plaintiffs bring this action on their behalf and on behalf of all other persons similarly situated pursuant to Rules 23(a) and 23(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Proce dure. The members of the classes (as will be set out in paragraph IY below) on whose behalf this suit is, brought are similarly affected by the policies, practices, rules and regulations of the defendants complained of herein. The members of the classes on whose behalf this suit is brought are so numerous as to make it impracticable to bring each one of them individually before this Court. There are common questions of law and fact involved. The claims of the representatives are typical of the claims of the class they represent and the representatives adequately represent and protect the interests of the class. Defen dants have acted in a way which is generally applicable to the members of the classes. IV The named plaintiffs in this case are: A. Everline Lewis is a Negro citizen of Alabama and a resident of Talladega, Alabama. She is presently a tenant in the Knoxville Homes, a public housing project of the City of Talladega, but is threatened with eviction Complaint 4 because her daughter, who is not living with her, is ex pecting an illegitimate child. (See attached letter—Ap pendix A.) She represents herself and all other persons similarly situated who are threatened with eviction or have been evicted because a member of their family is expecting or has an illegitimate child. B. Margaret Truss is a Negro citizen of Alabama and a resident of Talladega, Alabama. She is presently a tenant in the Knoxville Homes, a public housing project of the City of Talladega, but is threatened with eviction because she is expecting an illegitimate child. (See at tached letter—Appendix B.) She represents herself and all other persons similarly situated who are threatened with eviction or have been evicted because they are ex pecting an illegitimate child. V The named defendants in this case are: A. The Housing Authority of the City of Talladega which is charged under state and local laws with the oper ation of the public housing projects in the City of Talladega and is responsible for the promulgation of all regulations pertaining thereto. B. William J. Munroe, who is executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Talladega, Alabama. In this capacity he is responsible for the operation of the housing projects operated by the Housing Authority of the City of Talladega and for the enforcement of all rules and regulations promulgated by said Housing Authority. Complaint VI Defendants, acting under color of authority vested in them by the laws of the State of Alabama and the ordi nances of the City of Talladega, have pursued and are presently pursuing policies and practices which violate the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs and those of the members of the classes which they represent. On December 1, 1964, defendant housing authority in stituted and has since maintained a policy of automatically evicting any tenant family from any one of its public hous ing projects if any member of that family has or is ex pecting an illegitimate child. (See attached letter—Ap pendix C.) Defendants have carried out this policy with reference to the named plaintiffs as follows: Plaintiff Everline Lewis, the mother of seven children, is presently residing in the Knoxville Homes, a public housing project operated by defendants. In a letter dated January 23, 1967, she was notified to move from her house within ten days of the date of the letter. She was subse quently notified that she must vacate the premises she occupies by February 10, 1967. She is entitled to remain in possession of her present residence under the standards and provisions of the state and federal statutes author izing the housing project herein involved. Nevertheless, she has been required to vacate these premises for the ostensible reason that her daughter is expecting an il legitimate child although her daughter does not live with her. Plaintiff, Margaret Truss, the mother of three children, is presently residing in the Knoxville Homes, a public housing project operated by defendants. In a letter dated Complaint 6 January 23, 1967, she was notified that she would be re quired to move from the house she occupies within ten days from the date of the letter. She was subsequently notified that she would have to vacate these premises by February 10, 1967. She is entitled to remain in posses sion of the premises she now occupies under the standards and provisions of the state and federal statutes author izing the said housing projects. Nevertheless, the defendant housing authority is requiring her to vacate these prem ises for the ostensible reason that she is expecting an illegitimate child. The above plaintiffs are threatened with immediate, grave and irreparable injury because their eviction from this public housing project will force them to live in sub standard, unsanitary, unsafe and crowded living condi tions to the detriment of themselves and their children. In addition, if plaintiffs are evicted, the status quo of this action will be destroyed and will render the prosecution of this suit difficult, if not impossible, in its present posture. VII The adoption and enforcement by defendants of their above-mentioned policies have resulted in a denial to the plaintiffs of rights secured to them by the Constitution and the laws of the United States in the following partic ulars : A. Plaintiffs have been denied the equal protection of the laws in that they will be evicted from the public housing project owned and operated by agencies and agents of the State of Alabama on a basis wholly arbitrary and irrational and not bearing a reasonable relationship to the purposes and functions of public housing. Complaint 7 B. The plaintiffs have been denied due process of law in that they will be evicted from the public housing project owned and operated by agencies and agents of the State of Alabama without being told the reason for this eviction and without being given an opportunity to defend against such eviction in a fair hearing. C. Plaintiffs have been denied equal protection of the laws in that defendants have operated and are continuing to operate the public housing projects of the City of Tal ladega on a segregated basis. D. Moreover, the actions of the defendants thus de scribed violate the express intent and purpose of the public housing laws of the United States under which funds were granted for the establishment of the housing projects un der the control of the defendants. VIII Plaintiffs and the class which they represent have suf fered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury by the policies, practices, customs and usages of defendants com plained of herein until the same are enjoined by this Court. Plaintiffs have no other adequate remedy at law to redress the grievances herein set forth than this suit for injunctive relief. W h e r e f o r e , plaintiffs pray that this Court issue a tem porary restraining order and, after advancing the cause on the docket ordering a speedy hearing of this action according to law and holding such hearing, enter a prelim inary and permanent injunction enjoining defendants and Complaint 8 their agents, employees, successors and all persons in ac tive concert and participation with them from: (1) continuing to enforce the policy of automatically evicting any family living in any one of its public housing projects if a member of that family has or is expecting an illegitimate child; (2) continuing to evict or threatening to evict tenants living in any one of its public housing projects without indicating the reasons for the eviction and without giving them a fair hearing on the alleged charges for the eviction; (3) instituting any proceedings to evict, or further threatening to evict, plaintiffs and the classes they repre sent; (4) continuing to segregate the said public housing projects on the basis of race or color; and (5) failing to comply with federal regulations relating to the operation of public housing projects constructed with the aid of federal funds; in particular, those regula tions that require that notices be posted stating that all projects are open to all applicants regardless of race or color. Plaintiffs also pray for a declaratory judgment that they may not be evicted on the grounds set out above and that the policies and practices set out above violate rights protected by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. Plaintiffs further pray that this Court will allow them their costs herein, reasonable attorneys’ fees and grant Complaint 9 such further, additional or alternative relief as may appear to the court to be equitable and just. Respectfully submitted, / s / Qrzell B illingsley, Jr. Orzell B illingsley, Jr. P eter A. H all 1630 Fourth Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Charles H . J ones, Jr. Charles S tephen R alston Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 Attorneys for Plaintiffs (Verified February 10,1967.) Complaint F iled in Clerk’s Office N orthern D istrict of A labama F eb 10 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, TJ. S. D istrict Court By Jewel M. M assey Deputy Clerk 10 Appendix A Annexed to Complaint Cttbky Couet HOUSING AUTHORITY OP THE CITY OF TALLADEGA 151 Cubby Coubt T alladega, A la. K noxville H omes January 23, 1967 Mrs. Everline Lewis 44 Knoxville Homes Talladega, Alabama Dear Tenant: Yon are hereby notified to move from the house you now occupy, 44 Knoxville Home, within 10 days from the above date. Very truly yours, H ousing A uthobity op the City op T alladega / s / W illiam J. M unboe W illiam J. M unboe Executive Director W JM /h 11 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF TALLADEGA 151 Cubby Coubt T alladega, A la. Cubby Coubt K noxville H omes Appendix B Annexed to Complaint January 23, 1967 Mrs. Margaret Truss 50 Knoxville Homes Talladega, Alabama Dear Tenant: You are hereby notified to move from the house you now occupy, 50 Knoxville Homes, within 10 days from the above date. Very truly yours, H ousing A uthobity of the City of T alladega / s / W illiam J. M unboe W illiam J. M unboe Executive Director W JM A 12 EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 1964, ANY ILLEGITI MATE CHILD BORN TO ANY MEMBER OF A TENANT FAMILY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BRING ABOUT THE EVICTION OF THAT FAMILY. AFTER DECEMBER 1, 1964, IF IT BECOMES AP PARENT THAT A PERSON IS EXPECTING AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD, THE FAMILY WILL BE EVICTED IMMEDIATELY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO MAKE THE POLICY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMPLETELY CLEAR TO THE TENANT. NO EXCEPTIONS W ILL BE MADE. Appendix C Annexed to Complaint W illiam J. Munroe E xecutive Director H ousing A uthority of the City of Talladega, A labama February 21, 1964. 13 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Fob the Northern District of A labama E astern Division Motion for Temporary Restraining Order [same title] Motion for Temporary Restraining Order Plaintiffs move this Court for a temporary restraining order, without notice, restraining defendants and each of them, their agents, servants, employees and successors from: 1. Evicting or threatening to evict from any public housing project under the control of defendants, plaintiff Everline Lewis and other members of her class on the ground that a member of her family, although not living with her is expecting an illegitimate child: 2. Evicting or threatening to evict from any public housing project under the control of the defendants, plain tiff Margaret Truss and other members of her class on the ground that she is expecting an illegitimate child; 3. Instituting any proceedings to evict, or further threatening to evict, plaintiffs and/or any members of the classes they represent and; 4. Evicting or threatening to evict plaintiffs and other members of their class from public housing projects under the control of defendants, without: 14 a. proper and sufficient notice; b. adequate and reasonable grounds; c. granting a fair hearing on the charges allegedly permitting or requiring their eviction. Plaintiffs pray that this relief be granted, pending hear ing and determination of their motion for preliminary or interlocutory injunctions on the ground that immediate and irreparable injury, loss and damage will result to them and the members of their class before notice can be served and a hearing had thereon, as more fully appears from the complaint attached hereto. The critical question is whether defendants may, pur suant to an established policy, properly evict or threaten to evict the named plaintiffs and members of their class from public housing projects in the City of Talladega be cause a member of their family (or they themselves) is expecting or has an illegitimate child. The named plaintiffs have been notified that they must vacate the premises they presently occupy by February 10, 1987. As long as defendants continue to maintain their present policy, other tenants in the public housing projects of the City of Tal ladega are in danger of being evicted or threatened with eviction. If these evictions are not enjoined irreparable injury will result, since plaintiffs will be forced to leave the premises controlled by defendants and will have to live in sub-standard housing, to the detriment of their health and that of their children. Further, unless this Court acts to immediately grant the requested temporary restraining order plaintiffs may be irretrievably denied, by their eviction, the right to have their federal consti tutional claims litigated in federal court because the oc currence of the evictions may render their claims moot. Motion for Temporary Restraining Order 15 Therefore, a temporary restraining order is required in order to preserve the status quo pending the final resolu tion of the issues more fully raised by the complaint of the plaintiffs. The reason and grounds for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction are set out more fully in plaintiffs’ brief in support of this motion. Respectfully submitted, / s / Obzell B illingsley, Je. Obzell B illingsley, Jb. 1630 Fourth Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Chables H. Jones, Jb. Chakles Stephen Ralston Jack Geeenbebg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 Petbb A. H all 1630 Fourth Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Attorneys for Plaintiffs F iled in Clebk’s Office Nobthebn Distbict of A labama F eb 10 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clebk, U. S. Distbict Coubt By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk Motion for Temporary Restraining Order 16 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F oe the Nobthebn Distbict op Alabama E astern Division Motion for Preliminary Injunction [same title] Motion pob Preliminary I njunction Plaintiffs, upon the sworn complaint filed in this case, move this Court for a preliminary injunction pending final hearing and determination of this case, enjoining the defendants, their agents, servants, employees, suc cessors, and all persons in active concert and participation with them from : 1. Evicting or threatening to evict from any public housing project under the control of defendants, plaintiff Everline Lewis and other members of her class on the ground that a member of her family, although not living with her is expecting an illegitimate child; 2. Evicting or threatening to evict from any public housing project under the control of the defendants, plain tiff Margaret Truss and other members of her class on the ground that she is expecting an illegitimate child; 3 . Instituting any proceedings to evict, or further threatening to evict, plaintiffs and/or any members of the classes they represent and; 17 4. Evicting or threatening to evict plaintiffs and other members of their class from public housing projects under the control of defendants, without : a. proper and sufficient notice; b. adequate and reasonable grounds; c. granting a fair hearing on the charges allegedly permitting or requiring their eviction. In the alternative, the plaintiffs pray that this Court enter a decree directing the defendants to refrain from enforcing their policy of automatically evicting plaintiffs, and the class they represent, in any of its public housing projects if a member of said class has or is expecting an illegitimate child. Unless restrained by this Court, defendants will per form the acts referred to. Such action by the defendants will result in irreparable injury, loss and damage to the plaintiffs, as more particularly appears in the complaint filed in this cause. The issuance of a preliminary injunc tion herein will not cause undue inconvenience or loss to defendants but will prevent irreparable injury to plaintiffs. W herefore, plaintiffs pray that this Court will issue a preliminary injunction immediately enjoining the defen dants from committing the acts complained of in their verified bill of complaint. Plaintiffs pray that this Court will allow them their costs herein, reasonable counsel fees, and grant such other, Motion for Preliminary Injunction 18 further, additional or alternative relief as may appear to the Court to be equitable and just. Respectfully submitted, / s / Orzell B illingsley, Je. Oezell B illingsley, Jr. Peter A. H all 1630 Fourth Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 Attorneys for Plaintiffs Motion for Preliminary Injunction F iled in Clerk’s Oeeice Northern District of A labama F eb 10 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 19 Order for Hearing on Preliminary Injunction IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F oe the Northern Distbict of A labama E astern Division [same title] Obdeb foe H earing on Preliminary I njunction On presentation and consideration of the complaint filed in this cause, It Is Ordered, that the application for a preliminary injunction prayed for in the complaint be and the same is hereby set for hearing before the undersigned in Birming ham, Alabama, on the 20th day of February, 1967, at 9 :3Q o’clock A.M., in the United States District Court Room in said City; and that a copy of this order be served im mediately with the summons and complaint upon each of the defendants and due return made according to law. Done and Obdebed at Birmingham, Alabama, on this the 10th day of February, 1967. / s / H . H. Grooms U. S. District Judge F iled in Clerk’s Office Nobthern District of A labama Feb 10 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clebk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 20 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F ob the Northern District oe A labama E astern Division Civil A ction No. CA 67-106 Order E verline Lewis and Margaret Truss, vs. Plaintiffs, The H ousing A uthority oe the City oe T alladega, et al., Defendants. This cause came on to be heard on plaintiffs’ verified complaint, and it appearing to the Court that the defen dants are committing unlawful acts or are about to commit unlawful acts as set forth in plaintiffs’ complaint, and will continue to do so unless restrained by Order of this Court, and that immediate and irreparable injury, loss and damage will result to plaintiffs before notice can be served and a hearing had on plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction in that plaintiffs are presently re siding in the Knoxville Homes, a public housing project operated by defendants and have been summarily notified to vacate said premises by February 10, 1967, solely be cause a daughter of plaintiff Everline Lewis, who does not reside with her mother on the premises involved, is expecting an illegitimate child and plaintiff Margaret Truss, 21 a resident of the subject project, is the mother of an il legitimate child, it is Ordered that The Housing Authority of the City of Talladega, Alabama; and William J. Munroe, individually and in his capacity as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Talladega; their agents, em ployees, successors and all persons in active concert and participation with them be, and they are hereby restrained from in any manner, either directly or indirectly, evicting or threatening to evict the plaintiffs from the aforesaid Knoxville Homes, provided that plaintiffs give security in the sum of $250.00 for the payment of such costs and dam ages as may be incurred or suffered by any party who is found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained, such bond to be approved by the Court or by the clerk of the Court; and it is further Ordered, that this Order expire within 10 days after entry unless within such time on Order for good cause shown it is extended, or unless the defendants consent that it may be extended for a longer period; and it is further Ordered, that copies of this Order (and of the plaintiffs’ complaint), together with proper summons issued by the clerk of this Court, be immediately served by the United States Marshal upon the defendants. Order 22 Issued at 3:13 P.M., February 10th, 1967. / s / H. EL Gbooms U nited States Distbict Judge Order F iled in Cleek’s Office Nobtfiebn Distbict of A labama F eb 10 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clebk, U. S. Distbict Coubt By J ew el M. M assey Deputy Clerk 23 Bond UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Northern District of A labama Civil A ction No. CA 67-106 State of A labama, Jefferson County K now A ll Men by T hese Presents, that Everline Lewis and Margaret Truss, as principals and Peter A. Hall and Orzell Billingsley, Jr., as surety, are held and firmly bound unto T he H ousing A uthority of the City of Talladega, A labama; and W illiam J. Munroe, individually and in his capacity as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Talladega, in the penal sum of Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) Dollars, for the payment thereof well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our successors and assigns, jointly and severally, by these presents: The condition of this bond is such that: E verline Lewis and Margaret Truss have filed in the Court a Motion for, and have been granted a Temporary Restraining Order restraining The Housing Authority of the City of Talladega, Alabama, and William J. Munroe, individually and in his capacity as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Talladega, their agents, employees, successors and all persons in active concert and participation with them from directly or in directly evicting or threatening to evict the plaintiffs from Knoxville Homes, a public housing project operated by said defendants. Now, T herefore, I f said plaintiffs shall pay or cause to be paid all costs and damages as may be incurred or suf- 24 Bond fered by defendants by reason of having been wrongfully restrained, then this obligation shall be void; otherwise it shall remain in full force and effect. I n W itness W heeeoe, we, the above and undersigned principals and surety, have hereunto set our hands and seals on this 10th day of February, 1967. E vebline Lewis and Mabgaret Truss B y : / s/ Orzell B illingsley, Jr. (Seal) Attorney for Plaintiffs Everline Lewis and Margaret Truss / s / Peter A. H all / s / Orzell B illingsley, Jr. Approved this 14th day of February, 1967. / s / H. H. G rooms U. S. District Judge F iled in Clerk’s Oeeice Northern District oe A labama F eb 13 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 25 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT P oe the Noethers District of A labama E asters Division Order [same title] O r d e r The motion for preliminary injunction being duly set for hearing on this date at 9 :30 a.m., come the parties and make known to the Court that they will attempt to stipulate the facts in lieu of taking depositions and that this will require some time. Accordingly, they have consented that the tem porary restraining order be continued in force and effect pending an application of one of the parties, upon notice to the other, to set the same for further hearing. The Court concurs in the request for a continuance. It is, therefore, Ordered, A djudged and Decreed that pending the application of one of the parties, after the no tice to the other, to reset the hearing for preliminary in junction, the temporary restraining order be and the same is hereby continued in force and effect by agreement of the parties herein, and pending the further orders of this Court. It is understood that the plaintiffs will continue to pay rent and such payment will be without prejudice to the rights of either party. Order Done and Ordered, this the 20th day of February, 1967. / s / H. H. Grooms United States District Judge F iled in Clerk’s Office Northern District of A labama F eb 20 1967 W illiam E. Dayis Clerk, U. 8. District Court By J ew el M. M assey Deputy Clerk 27 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F ob the N orthern District of A labama E astern Division Civil A ction 67-106 Motion to Dismiss Everline L ewis and Margaret Truss, v. Plaintiffs, T he H ousing A uthority of the City of Talladega, et al., Defendants. M otion to Dismiss Now come the Defendants and move the Court as follows: I, To dismiss this action on the following separate and several grounds: A. That this Court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter attempted to be alleged in that it appears from the face of the complaint that no Plaintiff, or any member of a class which she purports to represent, has been denied any right or privilege guaranteed or afforded by the Con stitution of the United States or any Act of Congress, and there are no other allegations in the complaint purport ing to set up any other grounds for jurisdiction in this Court to grant the relief sought in this cause. 28 B. The Housing Authority of the City of Talladega is a municipal corporation of the State of Alabama, and exercises only such authority as is conferred upon it by the laws of Alabama. The Defendants have not (and there is no allegation in the complaint to the contrary) at tempted to exercise any authority or powers granted to them by the Constitution of the United States or any Act of Congress. If the Plaintiffs desire to attack the exercise of rights and powers granted to Defendants by the State of Alabama, they must do so in the courts of Alabama. Original jurisdiction for such attack does not rest in the Federal courts. C. The allegations of fact in the complaint do not bring the Plaintiffs under the provisions of any of the statutes and constitutional provisions to which they refer for juris diction in Paragraph I of the complaint. D. The statutes and constitutional provisions referred to in Paragraph I of the complaint are not invoked by the allegations of the complaint. E. The complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. F. This Court does not have jurisdiction of this cause under any of the authorities cited under Paragraph I of the complaint. Gf. It affirmatively appears from the allegations of the complaint that the Plaintiffs have not been, on the ground of race, color or national origin, excluded from participa tion in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimi Motion to Dismiss 29 nation under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. H. The complaint contains no allegation which would support a claim that Plaintiffs, or either of them, or that any member of a class which they purport to represent, have been, on the ground of race, color or national origin, excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. II. To strike from the complaint the following paragraphs and portions thereof: 1. The words “ and by Section 601 of the Civil Eights Act of 1964” in Paragraph I of the complaint. 2. Sub-paragraphs D and E in Paragraph II of the complaint. 3. The words “and by Section 601 of the Civil Eights Act of 1964” at the end of Paragraph II of the complaint. 4. Sub-paragraph C of Paragraph VII of the com plaint. 5. Sub-paragraphs 4 and 5 of the prayer of the complaint. 6. The words “and that the policies and practices set out above violate rights protected by the Constitu tion and laws of the United States” at the end of the second paragraph of Paragraph 5 of the prayer of the complaint. Motion to Dismiss 30 and, for grounds therefor, assign the following, separately and severally: A. Plaintiffs cannot bring a class action for declaratory or injunctive relief because it affirmatively appears that plaintiffs have not been denied a privilege or subjected to a possible irrevocable injury. B. No facts are alleged in the complaint which support an allegation that Plaintiffs, or any class which they pur port to represent, have been, on the ground of race, color or national origin, excluded from participation in, or de nied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial as sistance. C. Neither of the Pliantiffs allege that they, or any member of a class which they purport to represent, have been denied occupancy in any Housing Authority of the Defendant, The Housing Authority of the City of Tal ladega, in which they desire to live. D. The complaint affirmatively states that the Plaintiffs are presently residing in the low rent housing project of the Defendant, and, therefore, the complaint fails to estab lish how either of them could be damaged or injured. E. The complaint affirmatively shows that the class which Plaintiffs purport to represent are residing in the low rent housing project of the Defendant, and, therefore, the complaint fails to establish how any of said class could be damaged or injured. F. The complaint fails to allege or disclose how in any manner whatsoever the Plaintiffs, or any member of the Motion to Dismiss 31 class which they purport to represent, have been denied any right or privilege on the grounds of race, color or na tional origin. G. The complaint fails to allege or disclose how in any manner whatsoever the Plaintiffs, or any member of the class which they purport to represent, have been dis criminated against on the grounds of race, color or na tional origin. H. The complaint does not disclose how in any manner whatsoever, or to any extent whatsoever, the Plaintiffs, or any member of the class which they purport to represent, have been excluded from participation in, denied the ben efits or, or discriminated against under any Federally as sisted program on grounds of race, color or national origin, or under any other ground. / s / Byron D. Boyett Byron I). B oyett Attorney for the Defendants Of Counsel: Dixon, W ooten & B oyett P. 0. Drawer 646 Talladega, Alabama 35160 Motion to Dismiss F iled in Clerk’s Oeeioe Northern District op A labama F eb 28 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 32 IF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F oe the Nobthekn Distbict op A labama E astebn Division Motion in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss [same title] Motion in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss I The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this suit. II Plaintiffs have alleged sufficient facts to support their reliance upon the statutes and constitutional provisions which they have cited to invoke the jurisdiction of this Court. I l l Plaintiffs’ complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted. IV Plaintiffs should not be required to strike any portions of their complaint. 33 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Peter A. H all P eter A. H all Orzell Billingsley 1630 Fourth Avenue, North Birmingham, Alabama Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 Attorneys for Plaintiffs Motion in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss F iled in Clerk’s Opeice Northern District of A labama A pr 24 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 34 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F ob the Northern District oe A labama Eastern Division Supplemental Motion to Dismiss [same title] Supplemental Motion to Dismiss Now come the Defendants and represent to the Court that notices heretofore given to the Plaintiffs in this cause on January 23, 1967, terminating the tenancies of the Plain tiffs, have been cancelled and revoked, with the right to the Plaintiffs to continue in possession of said premises under existing leases; and the action by the Defendants to remove the Plaintiffs from the public housing project operated by the Defendants has been vacated and rescinded (see Ex hibits “A ” and “B” attached). Now come the Defendants and move the Court to dismiss this action on the grounds that the issue presented by the Plaintiffs’ complaint in this cause is now a moot issue. Wherefore, upon the grounds herein assigned and upon the grounds previously assigned in the Defendants’ orig- 35 inal Motion to Dismiss on file in this cause, the Defend ants now move the Court to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ action. Supplemental Motion to Dismiss / s / Byron D. B oyett Byron D. B oyett A ttorn ey fo r the Defendants O f Counsel: Dixon, W ooten & Boyett P. 0. Drawer 646 Talladega, Alabama 35160 F iled in Clerk’s Office Northern District of A labama Jun 5 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By M. Claire Parsons Deputy Clerk 36 Exhibit “A” Annexed to Foregoing Motion HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE City of Talladega 151 CURRY COURT T a l l a d e g a , A l a . Curry Court Area Code 205 362-2063 K noxville H omes Area Code 205 362-4998 May 31, 1967 Mrs. Everline Lewis 44 Knoxville Homes Talladega, Alabama Dear Tenant: You are hereby notified that the notice of termination of tenancy heretofore given on January 23, 1967, is can celled and revoked and you may continue to occupy said premises under the existing or any subsequent lease now in force and effect. Yours very truly, H ousing A uthority of the City of Talladega / s / W illiam J. M unroe W illiam J. Munroe E xecu tive D irector WJM/mfp 37 Exhibit “ B” Annexed to Foregoing Motion HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE City of Talladega 151 CUBBY COURT T a l l a d e g a , A l a . Cubby Court Area Code 205 362-2063 K noxville H omes Area Code 205 362-4998 May 31, 1967 Mrs. Margaret Truss 50 Knoxville Homes Talladega, Alabama Dear Tenant: You are hereby notified that the notice of termination of tenancy heretofore given on January 23, 1967, is cancelled and revoked; and you may continue to occupy said prem ises under the existing or any subsequent lease now in force and effect. Yours very truly, H ousing A uthority of the City of Talladega / s / W illiam J. Munboe W illiam J. Munroe E xecutive D irector WJM/mfp Order of Dismissal IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F ob the Nobthebn Distbict of A labama E astebn Division [same title] Obdeb oe Dismissal This matter came on for hearing on the regnlar motion docket at this time upon the defendants’ motion to dismiss and the plaintiffs’ motion in opposition thereto. It being made known to the Court that the defendants have with drawn the notice to terminate and the notice to vacate, the case will be dismissed on motion of the defendants. It is noted that counsel for the plaintiffs are not present. It is, therefore, Obdebed, A djudged and Decbeed that the defendants’ motion to dismiss be and the same is hereby granted, and this action be and the same is hereby dis missed at the costs of the plaintiffs. 89 Done and Ordered, this the 2nd day of June, 1967. / s / H. H. Grooms United S tates D istrict Judge Order of Dismissal (Seal) F iled in Clerk’s Office Northern District of A labama Jun 5 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By M. Claire Parsons Deputy Clerk A True Copy W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court Northern District of A labama By M. Claire Parsons Deputy Clerk 40 Motion for Relief From an Order IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F or the Northern District of A labama E astern Division [same title] Motion for R elief from an Order Plaintiffs, pursuant to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, move this Court to vacate and set aside the final order granting defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss, entered against plaintiffs in this cause on the 2nd day of June, 1967, and to grant leave to plaintiffs to file a response with an opportunity for oral argument, on the ground that defendants failed to serve plaintiffs with proper notice of a hearing of said motion as required by Rule 6(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Respectfully submitted, / s / Peter A. H all Peter A. Hall Orzell B illingsley 1630 Fourth Avenue, North Birmingham, Alabama Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 A ttorn eys fo r Plaintiffs 41 M otion fo r B elie f F rom an Order F iled in Clebk’s Oeeioe N orthern District of A labama Jun 7-1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 42 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F ob the Northern District of A labama E astern Division Order on Motion for Relief [ sam e t it l e ] Order on M otion eor R elief The foregoing Motion presented this day to the Hon orable H. H. Grooms, District Judge, and continued for hearing on July 14, 1967 at 1 :30 p.m. Done this 7 day of June, 1967. / s / H. H. Grooms D istrict Judge F iled in Clerk’s Office Northern District of A labama Jun 7-1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 43 Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F oe the Northern District of A labama E astern Division [same title] Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental M otion to Dismiss Come now the plaintiffs and move the Court to overrule and dismiss defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss, and cite as grounds therefor the following: I The withdrawal of the notice to terminate and the notice to vacate given plaintiffs does not render this case moot as to the plaintiffs. II The withdrawal of the notice to terminate and the no tice to vacate given plaintiffs does not render this class action moot as to the members of the class plaintiffs rep resent. III In any event, since the Authority’s policy of excluding families with illegitimate children is still in full force, both 44 M otion in R esponse to D efendants’ Supplemental M otion to Dismiss plaintiffs and the members of their class continue to be subjected to its invocation against them. Respectfully submitted, / s / P eter A. H all P eter A. H all Orzell B illingsley 1630 Fourth Avenue, North Birmingham, Alabama Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 A ttorn eys fo r Plaintiffs 45 I The Withdrawal of the Notice to Terminate and the Notice to Vacate Given Plaintiffs Does Not Render This Case Moot as to the Plaintiffs. In their Supplemental Motion to Dismiss dated May 31, 1967, defendants indicated that they had withdrawn the notice to terminate and the notice to vacate previously given plaintiffs. Defendants alleged that this withdrawal had the effect of rendering the case moot and therefore entitled them to a motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs submit that this withdrawal does not render the case moot as to them. It is well settled in this Circuit that the voluntary ces sation of alleged unlawful acts does not render a case moot. In A nderson v. City o f A lbany, 321 F.2d 649 (5th Cir. 1963) it was similarly argued that the city’s repeal of segregation ordinances precluded a right to an injunction against re newal of the objectionable laws. In response to this con tention, the court stated: What has been adopted can be repealed, and what has been repealed can he readopted. We conclude, there fore, that the plaintiffs are entitled to have their in junction against State action depriving them of their constitutional rights based on the record at the time the case was tried. At p. 657. Likewise in B ailey v. Patterson, 323 F.2d 201 (5th Cir. 1963), cert, denied, 376 U.S. 910 (1964), it was recognized that plaintiffs were entitled to injunctive relief [notwith Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss 46 standing a declaratory judgment that the acts of the de fendant were unlawful] because . . the threat of con tinued or resumed violations of appellants’ federally pro tected rights remain actual. Denial of injunctive relief might leave appellees ‘free to return to [their] old ways.’ United S tates v. W . T. Grant, 345 IT.S. 629 . . At p. 205. Cases are legion to this same effect. Here, it is even clearer that plaintiffs’ case is not moot since defendants have not even pretended to change or cease using the basic policy of which plaintiffs complain. The Housing Authority regulation empowering the defend ants to evict a tenant family if any member of that family is expecting, or has an illegitimate child, is still intact. There has been no finding on the lawfulness of this regula tion and defendants are free to issue a new notice to termi nate and notice to vacate. These notices may be issued with the same suddenness which characterized their withdrawal. Surely this Court does not want the plaintiffs to be living in a state of suspension in which they are continually sub ject to a notice to terminate which may be issued at the whim of defendants. The existence of this regulation negates any possibility of mootness. II The Withdrawal of the Notice to Terminate and the Notice to Vacate Given Plaintiffs Does not Render Tills Class Action Moot as to the Members of the Class Plaintiffs Represent. Plaintiffs have brought this case as a class action in be half of all other persons similarly situated. Acts taken by the defendants with respect to plaintiffs cannot render the case moot with respect to the class members’ rights to have Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss 47 the issue presented resolved by this Court. In an en banc decision rendered by the Fourth Circuit— C ypress v. N ew port N ews General and Non-Sectarian H ospital A ss ’n , ------ F .2 d ------ (No. 10,672, March 9, 1967)—the court rejected the argument that the controversy was moot because one of the Negro physician plaintiffs was granted staff privi leges. Plaintiffs had sued in a class action to enjoin dis crimination, inter alia, in the admission of Negro physi cians to the hospital staff. In language applicable to the instant case, the court said: Such a last minute change of heart is suspect, to say the least. We recently had occasion to observe in L ankford v. Gelston, 364 F.2d 197, 203 (4th Cir. 1966), under somewhat different circumstances, that ‘protes tations of repentance and reform timed to anticipate or to blunt the force of a lawsuit offer insufficient as surance’ that the practice sought to be enjoined will not be repeated. See United S tates v. Oregon State Medical Soc’y, 343 TT.S. 326, 333 (1952). The need for injunctive relief is not to be judged in a vacuum. Just as it is an equitable axiom that an in junction will not issue merely because no demonstrable harm will result from its issuance, so an equity court will unhesitatingly grant this relief where in its estima tion the circumstances reasonably indicate its neces sity. Our appraisal must take into consideration more than the single, tardy, reluctant, and incomplete step— the admission of Dr. Cypress. The members of the class as well as the plaintiffs them selves have the right to have an adjudication of their claims Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss 48 notwithstanding the voluntary suspension of the notices to terminate and vacate heretofore given the named plaintiffs. / s / Peter A. H all Peter A. H all Orzell Billingsley 1630 Fourth Avenue, North Birmingham, Alabama Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 A ttorn eys fo r P laintiffs Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion in Response to Defendants’ Supplemental Motion to Dismiss F iled in Clerk’s Office N orthern District of A labama Jun 14 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court B y J e w e l M . M a s s e y Deputy Clerk 49 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT P oe the Northern District of A labama E astern Division Order on Motion for Relief From the Order of June 2, 1967 [same title] Order on Motion for R elief from the Order of June 2, 1967 The defendants’ original motion to dismiss filed on Feb ruary 28, 1967, was set on the regular motion docket on June 2, 1967. A copy of this docket was forwarded to plaintiffs’ counsel. On May 31, 1967, the defendants wrote the plaintiffs advising them that the notices of termination of tenancy were cancelled and revoked and that they could continue to occupy said premises under the existing or any subsequent lease then in force and effect. The basis for the original eviction was the applicability of a rule to the effect that the tenant would be evicted if an occupant of the leased premises has or is expecting an illegitimate child. The motion to dismiss was amplified by attaching a copy of the revocation of the eviction notices. When the motion docket was sounded on June 2, 1967, counsel for the plaintiffs did not appear, and it appeared to the Court that the action was rendered moot by virtue of the fact that the eviction notices had been revoked. On June 7, 1967, the plaintiffs filed a motion to vacate and set aside the order of June 2, 1967, and upon the hear ing on this date it appears that one of the plaintiffs who 50 had vacated her leasehold has re-occupied the premises and that there is no present threat to evict either of the plain tiffs or any other party for violation of the rule referred to. The counsel for the Housing Authority has stated in open court that the Authority is complying with the circular of the Department of Housing and Urban Development which was involved in the decision of Thorpe v. H ousing A uthority o f the C ity o f Durham, No. 712, October Term, 1966, and that the aforesaid rule will further in all respects be subordinated to the circular referred to. The plaintiffs insist upon* a hearing to test the constitu tionality of the rule. However, the Court does not feel that it should attempt to meet this constitutional issue in the present posture of the case and under the undisputed facts as disclosed by statement of counsel. The Court, however, will amend the order of dismissal so that the action will be dismissed without prejudice, and the Court will permit a re-opening of the case without the necessity of the institu tion of a new suit at any time that the rights of the plain tiffs might be impaired by any wrongful or unconstitu tional acts on the part of the defendants. It is, therefore, Ordered, A djudged and Decreed that the last paragraph of the order of dismissal entered herein on June 2, 1967, be and it hereby is amended to read as fol lows : “It is, therefore, Ordered, A djudged and Decreed that the defendants’ motion to dismiss be and the same is hereby granted, and this action be and the same is hereby dismissed, without prejudice, however.” The plaintiffs will be permitted on proper notice and upon good cause shown to reinstate this action. Order on Motion for Relief From the Order of June 2, 1967 51 No costs are taxed herein. Done and Ordered, this the 14th day of July, 1967. /&/ H. H. Grooms United S tates D istrict Judge Order on Motion for Relief From the Order of June 2, 1967 F iled in Clerk’s Office Northern District of A labama Jul 18 1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk (Seal) A True Copy W illiam E. Davis, Clerk U nited States District Court Northern District of A labama By J e w e l M . M a s s e y Deputy Clerk 52 Notice of Appeal IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT F oe the Northern District of A labama E astern Division [ sam e t it l e ] N otice of A ppeal Notice is hereby given that Everline Lewis and Margaret Truss, plaintiffs herein, hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from an order of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Eastern Division, dismissing this action. Said order was dated July 14, 1967 and was filed in the Clerk’s office on July 18, 1967. Dated: August 3, 1967. / s / Peter A. H all Peter A. Hall Orzell B illingsley 1630 Fourth Avenue, North Birmingham, Alabama Charles H. Jones, Jr. Charles Stephen Ralston Gabrielle A. K irk Jack Greenberg 10 Columbus Circle New York, New York 10019 A ttorn eys fo r Plaintiffs 53 Notice of A ppeal F iled in Clerk’s Office Northern District of A labama A ug 3 -1967 W illiam E. Davis Clerk, U. S. District Court By Jewel M. Massey Deputy Clerk 54 Clerk’s Certificate U nited States oe A mebica, Northern District oe A labama I, W illiam E. Davis, Clerk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama do hereby cer tify that the foregoing pages numbered from one (1) to sixty-two (62), both inclusive, comprise the original plead ings in this action and are herewith attached as a full, true and correct transcript of the record on appeal in the Mat ter of E verline L ewis and Margaret Truss, Appellants, vs. T he H ousing A uthority oe the City oe Talladega, A labama, et al., Appellees, Civil Action No. 67-106, East ern Division, as fully as the same appears of record and on file in my office. I n W itness W hereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Birmingham, Alabama, in said District, on this the 11th day of August, 1967. (Seal) / s / W illiam E. D avis W illiam E. D avis, Clerk United S tates D istrict Court MEiLEN PRESS INC. — N. Y. 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