Rogers v US Steel Corp. Appellants Reply Brief
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Case Files, Chisom Hardbacks. Original Brief Submitted on Behalf of Amicus Curiae Supreme Court Justice for Orleans, Inc., 1989. cabae037-f211-ef11-9f8a-6045bddc4804. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/c3cf09a7-1042-48bb-ad22-9451c4be6bef/original-brief-submitted-on-behalf-of-amicus-curiae-supreme-court-justice-for-orleans-inc. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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89-3654 lin tilt ROO *tutu Tourt of Appals FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT NO. 89-3654 RONALD CHISOM, ET AL PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS • VERSUS CHARLES E. ROEMER, ET AL DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA CIVIL ACTION NO. 86-4075 SECTION "A" HONORABLE CHARLES SCHWARTZ, JR., JUDGE PRESIDING ORIGINAL BRIEF SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF AMICUS CURIAE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC. DARLEEN M. JACOBS - BAR #7208 (A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION) 823 St. Louis Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 (504) 522-3287 & 522-0155 A B Letter Service, Inc., 327 Chartres St., New Orleans, La. (504) 581-5555 drs11, CERTIFICATE OF INTEREST PARTIES Amicus Curiae, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC., hereby adopts the Certificate of Interested Parties filed by plaintiffs-appellants, RONALD CHISOM, et al. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC. is a non-profit Louisiana corporation which promotes voter education within Louisiana Supreme Court District One (1), comprising the Parishes of Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Orleans. The directors of SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC., who have an interest in the outcome of this litigation, are: 1.) John S. Keller, of New Orleans, Louisiana; 2.) Ira J. Middleberg, of New Orleans, Louisiana; and 3.) Denise S. Abadie, of New Orleans, Louisiana. Counsel for SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC. who also have 'an interest in the outcome of this litigation are: •1.) The Law Offices of Darleen M. Jacobs, represented by: a.) b.) Darleen M. Jacobs, Esq. Brian C. Beckwith, Esq. These representations are made here for the sole purpose of permitting the Judges of this Court to evaluate the case for possible disqualification and/or recusal, pursuant to Local Rule 28.2.1. STATUTES CITED Fifth Circuit Local Rule 47.7 (1987) 28 U.S.C. 1657(a) 42 U.S.C. 1973 42 U.S.C. 1983 Fourteenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution Fifteenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT Amicus Curiae, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC., does not request leave to appear at oral arguments. STATEMENT REGARDING JURISDICTION Amicus Curiae respectfully adopts the statement of jurisdiction contained in the original brief of plaintiff-appellant, RONALD CHISOM, et al. Amicus further submits that jurisdiction is uncontested. STATEMENT REGARDING AMICUS CURIAE Amicus Curiae herein is SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC., a non- profit Louisiana corporation, not affiliated with any political party or candidate, whose stated purposes are to: 1.) Promote voter education in the Louisiana Supreme Court District One (1), comprising the parishes of Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Orleans; and 2.) To provide a non-partial forum for the public discussion of • Supreme Court redistricting without regard to political party affiliation. Amicus Curiae here appears on behalf of plaintiffs-appellants, RONALD CHISOM, et al. Amicus Curiae does not represent any candidate or potential candidate for Louisiana Supreme Court Justice from the First District, but does have an interest in the outcome of this litigation as being solely comprised of registered voters in the Louisiana state Supreme Court First District. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT This appeal, which affects important civil rights with respect to elections for Louisiana Supreme Court justices, warrants priority determination. IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FIFTH CIRCUIT NO. 89-3654 RONALD CHISOM, ET AL • PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS • VERSUS CHARLES E. ROEMER, ET AL DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA • CIVIL ACTION NO. 86-4075 SECTION "A" HONORABLE CHARLES SCHWARTZ, JR. JUDGE PRESIDING ORIGINAL BRIEF SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF AMICUS CURIAE MAY WE PLEASE THE COURT: STATEMENT OF THE CASE COURSE OF PRIOR PROCEEDINGS Amicus Curiae, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR .ORLEANS, INC., respectfully adopts the statement of the case and the descriptions of prior proceedings contained in the original brief of plaintiffs-appellants, RONALD CHISOM, et al. ARGUMENT THIS CASE SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORTY STATUS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR ORLEANS, INC., Amicus Curiae herein, respectfully files this present brief for the sole purpose of suggesting to this Court that the extreme importance of this case to the makeup of the Louisiana Supreme Court warrants that this appeal be given priority status for expedited resolution. Local Rule 47.7 of this Court permits certain cases may be given preference for processing and disposition if good cause is shown therefor, citing 28 U.S.C. Section 1657. This statute, in turn, provides that civil actions may be given priority status for expedited consideration when good cause exists for such. The statute specifically provides that "good cause" is shown for purposes of 28 U.S.C. 1657(a) if: "a right under the Constitution of the United States or a Federal Statute would be maintained in a factual context that indicates a request for expedited consideration has merit." This is a voter discrimination case, brought pursuant to the Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 1973) and the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 1983), to secure rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Amicus Curiae is a non-profit, non-partisan entity that promotes voter education, awareness, and voter participation in the free elections as being the very foundation behind our society. The ramifications of this case are such as to impact greatly on the 1 exercise of important civil rights. This and other recent cases (n.b. Clark vs. Edwards/Roemer) have challenged the very fabric of Louisiana judicial elections from the courts of least jurisdiction to the highest. The Clark vs. Edwards/Roemer case deals with the fairness of all inferior Louisiana judicial elections and those of the state Supreme Court. Due to these challenges, elections have been enjoined statewide. In order to protect the integrity of the judicial offices, expedited resolution of this appeal is more than justified. Amicus Curiae, conscious of the needs of judicial economy, and reluctant to burden this Court with unnecessary and duplication arguments, respectfully defers to arguments of plaintiffs-appellants regarding the exact nature of import civil rights which are affected by this case. However, Amicus does humbly submit the importance of this case to the Louisiana Supreme Court First District election which should be held in 1990. Amicus submits that whatever may be the outco ,6 on the merits of this ase, the matter should be resolved as expeditiously as possible EEN M. #7218 ( PROFESS INAL L CORPORATION) 8 3 St. Lou ew Orlean ana 70112 '(504) 522-32 522-0155 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that I have on this foregoing on all counsel of record via the ted States st Service, properly addressed and postage prepaid. day of December, 1989, served a copy of the DARLE OBS 2 cc: Mr. Robert G. Pugh Pugh (Sc Pugh 333 Texas Street Suite 2100 Shreveport, LA 71101 Mr. Peter J. Butler Attorney At Law 201 St. Charles Ave. 35th Floor New Orleans, LA 70170 Mr. Blake G. Arata Attorney At Law 201 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 Mr. Roy J. Rodney, Jr. McGlinchey, Stafford, Mintz, Cellini dc Lang P. 0. Box 60643 New Orleans, LA 70160-0643 Mr. Ronald L. Wilson Attorney At Law 837 Gravier Street Suite 310 New Orleans, LA 70112 Ms. Pamela S. Karlan University of Virginia School of Law Charlottesville Virginia 22901 Mr. Julius L. Chambers Ms. Sherrilyn A. Ifill Ms. Judith Reed Legal Defense Fund, Inc. 999 Hudson Street - 16th Floor New York, New York 10013 Mr. Gerald W. Jones Mr. Steven H. Rosenbaum Mr. Robert S. Berman Attorneys, Voting Section Civil Rights Division Department of Justice P. 0. Box 66128 Washington, D.C. 20035-6128 - 3 - Mr. George Strickler, Jr. Attorney At Law 639 Loyola Avenue Suite 1075 New Orleans, LA 70113 Mr. M. Truman Woodward, Jr. Attorney At Law 909 Poydras Street Suite 2300 New Orleans, LA 70130 Mr. Moon Landrieu Attorney At Law 717 Girod Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Mr. A. R. Christovich Attorney At Law 601 Poydras Street Suite 2300 New Orleans, LA 70130 Ms. C. Lani Guinier University of Pennsylvania School of Law 3400 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mr. William P. Quigley 901 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70130 Mr. William J. Guste, Jr. Attorney General Louisiana Department of Justice • 234 Loyola Avenue - 7th Floor New Orleans, LA 70112