Correspondence from Lani Guinier to Laura Murphy Minor (c/o Speaker Willie Brown)

Correspondence
April 24, 1987

Correspondence from Lani Guinier to Laura Murphy Minor (c/o Speaker Willie Brown) preview

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  • Legal Department General, Lani Guinier Correspondence. Correspondence from Lani Guinier to Laura Murphy Minor (c/o Speaker Willie Brown), 1987. 258aa17a-ea92-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/9d57315a-5358-4982-af9b-909e3298cd5b/correspondence-from-lani-guinier-to-laura-murphy-minor-co-speaker-willie-brown. Accessed May 15, 2025.

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    LesarEDrenseH. NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC.
99 Hudson Street, New york, N.y. 10013 o (Z1Zl 419_1900

April 24, 1987

Ms. Laura Murphy Minor
c/o Speaker Willie Brown
California General Assembly
1-O7 South Broadway, Room 8009
Los Ange1es, CA 90012

Dear Laura:

As hre discussed, f enclose a copy of Joaguin,s proposal to LDF
requesting financing for a preliminary investigation of voting
rights cases in California. Included among the proposalrs
attachments is a list of municipalities identified by black
population and potentially targeted for pre-Iitigation
investigation. Although only incorporated cities and towns are
listed, corresponding school districts would also be considered.

This list needs to be both narrowed down and fleshed out using
the criteria outlined in Joaguin,s proposal. For example, those
places which use an at-large election system should be identified
first. Second, the number of blacks elected to the at-Iarge
governing council should be identified. Only those jurisdictions
using an at-large election system with significant ninority
under-representation would be targeted for more extensive
investigation.

I understand you may be able to help us initially compile a list
of at-large jurisdictions in which minorities are under-
represented. of course, other information also would be useful
in addition to the number of blacks el-ected to council or school
board seats in at-large jurisdictions. We would certainly
appreciate it, if, for example, you can provide us a local
community contact, a list of blacks who have run and lost (and
the years they ran) or any other infornation bearing on the
fairness of the existing political structure.
Our ultimate goal is to narrow the list down to approximately
five jurisdictions that warrant further inguiry into their
political structure.

Contributions are deduetible tor U.S. incomt lar purposes

The NAACP Legal oelense E Educational Fund, lnc. (LDF) is nol parl ol the l{alional Association lor the Advancement ol Colorod P0oplc (NAACP) although
LDF was lounded by the NAACPand shares its commitment to equal righls. LDF has had lor over 25years a separate Boatd, program, statl, otlice and budgel.



Ms. Laura Murphy lllnor -2-
Aprtl 24, 1987

Please let ue know if you can help us on this project. Although
we would like the lnformation as soon as possible, anything
within the next two or three months would be tinely.
Thank you so much for agreeing to consider our request.

Sincerelv.d)
A@-

Lani Guinier

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