Correspondence from Lani Guinier to Laura Murphy Minor (c/o Speaker Willie Brown)
Correspondence
April 24, 1987

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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 w/r Ll l^/a/,-Cb /^,a,1- N+-U"n T Plr^"- y wA u!9' \ ta'*'z 4 ba--L 6 ( tuA'Jt$*".' - &(E' s'(1' 3r &(E- 8,(1- 31 11. 0 de-r*^