Caston v. Sears, Roebuck and Co. Brief for Appellant
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February 2, 1976

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Case Files, Cromartie Hardbacks. Memorandum Opinion, 1998. e07af1ad-d90e-f011-9989-0022482c18b0. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/6736aeb3-2478-431f-be00-e2e1283de245/memorandum-opinion. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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APR-14-88 03:31PM FROM-FERGUSON, STIJHALLAS ADKINS , GRESHAIASUM +7043345654 @- T-593 P.02/42 F-554 CoJDept. ou Co i hi 4, Jb Phone # Phone Fax# Fax 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICL CUURY FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA EASTERN DIVISION FILED No. $196-CV-104-B0(3) MARTIN CROMARITE, THOMAS ) ‘APR 4 1998! CEBANDLER MUSE, GLENNES PODGE ) WEEKS, R.O. EVERETT, J.H. FROELICH, JAMES RONALD LINVILLE, and SUSAN HARDAWAY, Plaintiffs, DAVID W. DANIEL, CLERK U. S. INSTRICT COURT E DIST. NO. CAR MEMORANDUM QERINTION Vv. ) ) ) ) ) ) | JAMES B. HUNT, JR., Governor ) of the State of North ) Carolina) DENNIS A. WICKER, ) 1..ieutenant Governor of tha ) dtate of North Carolina) ) HAROLD J. BRUBAKER, Speaker of) the North Carolina House of ) Raprasantativeaj ELAINE ) MARSHALL, Secratary of the ) Etate of Narth Carolina) ) TARRY LEAKE, mambaz ol tho ) State Board of Elections) ) 8. KATHERINE BURNETTE, memker ) f# the Stata Board of ) lectione)] FAIGER BLACKWELL, ) ember of the Stats Board of |) locticng; DOROTHY FRESSER, ) ember of tha Btate Board of |) lections) and JUNE K. ) OUNGBLOOD, msmbar of the ) tata Board of Elections, in |) thelr 0ffialial Capscisiety and) THE NORTH CAROLINA BTATE ) BOARDS OF ELECTIONS, an pfficlial agency of the State ) nf North Carolina, ) ) ) ) pafandants, This matter is beforas the Court on the Plaintiffs’ Motions for Preliminary Injunction and for Summary Judgment, and on the pefendants® Motion for Summary Judgment. The underlying action -hallenges the congressional redistricting plan anacted bY tha APR-14-98 03:31PM FROM-FERGUSON, STEQIPHALLAS ADK Ns, GRESHAMASUM +7043345654 , 7-583 P.03/42 F-B54 General Assembly of the State of North Carolina on Marsh 31, 1997, contending that it violatas the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and relying on tha lina of cases zapresanted by shaw v, Hunt, 617 U.S. 839, 116 B. Ct. 1894, 135 L.BEd.2d 207 (1996) (“fhaw Ii"), and Miller v, Johnsen, 513 U.B. 300, 904, 115 8. Ct. 2475, 2482, 132 L.Ed.2d 762 (1983) Following a hearing in this matter on Mareh 31, 1998, the Court tock the parties' motions under advisement and thsranfter {gsusd an Order and Permanent Injunctien (1) finding that the Twelfth Congressional District under the 1957 North Carolina Congressional Redistricting Plan is unconstitutional, and granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment as to the twelfth Congreseional District) (2) granting Plaintiffs’ Motion gor Preliminary Injunction and granting Plaintiffs’ reguas’., as contained in ite Complaint, for a Parmanent Injunction, thnzeby enjoining Defendants from conducting any primary or genaral election for congressional offices under the redistricting plan anacted as 1997 N.C. Session Laws, Chapter 11; and (3) ordering that the parties file a written gubmiesion addresaing an appropriate time paricd within which the North Carolina Ganeral hasanbly may be allowed the opportunity to correct the ponstitutional defects in the 1997 Candrassiansd Redistricting 1an, and to prasent a proposed elaction schedule to follow redistricting which provides for a primary election process Fulminating in a general congresalonal election to be hald on ruesday, November 3, 1998, the date of the previously scheduled 2 APR-14-98 03:32PM FRoM-FERGUSON, STEWALLAS, ADKINS, GRESHAMLSUM +7043345654 * 7-583 P.04/42 F-554 genaral election. That order was issued on April 3, 1538, by a majority of the three-judge panel. Cirauit Judge Sam J. Ervin, III, dissented. Defendants filed a Motion for a Stay of the April 3 Order, which was denied by this Court by Order dated April 6, 1998. Defendants also eppealed the April 3 Order to the 8uprems Court, and the appeal ip still pending in that Court. This Memorandum and Opinion refers to that Ozder, and shall be the opinion of the Court. BACKGRQURND In Shaw II the United States Supreme Court held that the Twalfth Congressional District created by ths 1532 Congressional Redisericning Plan (hereinafter, the "1592 plan“) had been Iace~ hasad and could not survive the required rgrrict morutiny. 517 5.6. 899, 116 B. Ct. 1834, The five plaintiffs in Ehaw lanked tanding to attack the other majority-minority district (the irst Congressional District under the 1992 plan) because they ere not reglstered voters in the distriet.: Id, Soon after the Suprame Court ruled in ghaw IX, three residents cf Tarboro, North Carolina, filed the original romplaint in this aetion on July 3, 1396. Thess original blaintiffs resided in the Firat Congressional District (altarnatively, "District 1") as it existsd under North rarolina's 1992 plan. The Plaintiffs charged that the First bongressional District violated thelr rights to agual protection indez the Unitad Etates Constitution hecause race pradominated in 3 APR-14-88 03:32PM FROM-FERGUSON, STENALLAS ADK Ns, GRESHAWAS UH +7043345654 i» 7-583 P.05/42 F-554 he drawing of the District. The action was stayed pending resolution of yemand proceedings in haw v, Hunt, and on July 9, 1996, the same thres Tarbora residents joined tha Plaintiffs in hav in €iling an Amended Complaint in that case, similarly rhallenging District 1. By Order dated Septamber 12, 1957, tha three=judge panel in approved a congreaslonal redistricting plan enacted on March 1, 1997, by the Gensral Assembly as a remedy for the constitutional violation found by the Bupreme Court to exist in he Twelfth Congressional District (alternatively, "Distzict 2"). The Shaw three-judge pansl also dismisaed without prejudice, as moot, the plaintiffs’ claim that ths Flrst Congressional District in the 1552 plan wae unconstitutional. Although it was a final ardezr, the Beptembar 12, 1997, decision pf the Shaw thres-judga panel was net preclusive of the instant hause of action, as ths panel was not presantad with a continuing Lbhallengs to the redistrioting plan.’ ' Ip its final Memorandum Opinion, tha three-judge anel in , noted that thera was "no substantiva challenge to the 1997] plan by any party to this action," and closed by xplicitly "noting the limited basie of the approval of the plan hat we ara empcwared to give in the context of .this litigation. t {es limited by the dimansiens of this civil action as that ise afined by the parties and tha claima properly hefore us. Hare, hat means that we only approva the plan as an adequata ramady or the specific violation of the individual equal protaction ights of thoas plaintiffs who succesafully challangad the : egislature’'s creation of former District 12. Our approval thus omp not—canhot—run beyond the plan's remadial adequacy with aspect to those parties and the squal protection violation found 8 to former District 12. ghaw v, Hunt, No. 92=202-CIV-5-BR, at (E.D.N.C. Sapt. 12, 1837). APR-14-98 03:32PM rRow-FeRauson, SE. HALLAS ADKINS , GRESHAMRS UM +7043345654 i» 7-593 P.06/42 F-554 On Octobar 17, 1997, this Court dissolved the stay previously entered in this matter. On the sama day, two of the original threes Plaintiffs, along with four residents of District 12, £ilad en amended Complaint challenging the 1997 remedial congressional redistricting plan (the "1397 plan"), and seeking a declaration that the Pizat and Twelfth Congressional Districts in the 1937 plan are unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. The three-judge panel was designated by order of Chlef Judgm wilkinsion of the Fourth Cireuit Court of Appeals, dated Januazy 23, 1998. The Plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction on January 30, 1958, and for summary judgment on Fabruary 5, +998. The Defendants filed their instant summary judgment motlon en March 2, 1998, and a haazing on these motions was hald on March 31, 19898. EACIR The North Carolina General Assambly convened in regular sespdion on January 25, 1997, and formad redistricting commuttess to address the defects found in the 1992 plan. Those nawly formed Rouse and Sanate Committees aimed to identify a plan which pe cure the constitutional defecta and receive the support of majority of the members of the General Assembly. Affidavit of Jenator Roy A. Cooper, III ("Cooper Aff.") €3. In forming a workable plan, the committees were gulded by two avowed goals! (1) curing ths constitutional defacts of the 1992 plan by pssuring that race was net ths predominant factor in the new plan, and (2) drawing the plan to maintain the existing partisan 3 APR-14-98 03:32PM FROM-FERGUSON, STEPHALLAS, ADKINS , GRE SHAG UH +7043345654 I 7-593 P.07/42 F-554 DPT vw -— = balance in the Btats's congressional delagation. Cooper ALE. ¢¢s, 8, 10, 14; Affidavit of Gary 0, Bartlett, Exsoutlve Secratary-Director of the State Board of Elasctlons ("Bartlett Af€."), Vol. I Commentary at 9-10. To achieve the second goal, the redistricting committaeas drew the new plan (1) to avoid placing two incumbents in tha same district and (2) to presarve the partisan corsa of the existing distriete to the sxtant donsistent with the goal of curing the defects in the old plan. Cooper Aff. g14. The plan as enacted raflaats these directives: no two incumbent Congresamen reside in the same district, and each district retelna at least 60% of the population of the old district. Cooper Af¢., 98, affidavit of The Twelfth Conaremsional Digtzict ens W. Bdwin MoMahan ("McMahan Aff.") $7, piutzict 12 is ona of the six predominantly Demcozatioc Histriovs established hy the 1997 plan to maintain the 6-6 artisan division in North Carelina's congressional delegation. {gtrict 12 is not a majority-minericy district,’ but &6.67 ercont of its total population is African-American. Bartlett $§2,, Vol. I Commentary at 10 and ll. District 12 is composed of ix counties, all of them split in the 1937 plan. The racial »omposition af the parta of the six sub-divided counties amsigned Re ! rhe Twelfth is not a majorityeminority district as easurad by any of three possible criteria. African-Americans cnstituta 47 percent of the total population of District 12, 43 arcent of the voting age population of the District, and 46 SEgeny of the registered voters in the District. Paterson ALf., t 8. 6 APR-14-88 03: bs jeu 33PM FROM FERGUSON, STUQIHALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAHASUM +7043345654 J 7-593 P.08/42 F-554 ro District 12 include threes with parts over 50 percent African- erican, and three in which the African-American percentage is ndexr 350 percent. paclaratisn of Ronald E. Webher ("Webber ea.”) 18, However, almost 75 pereent of the total population in District 12 comes from tha three county parts which ars majority African-American in populations Macklenbuzg, Forsyth, Lnd Guilford eountlas. id. Tha othar threes county parts {Davidaon, Iredell, and Rowan) have narrow corridors which pick ip as many African-Amaricans aB are needad for tha district to each ite ideal size.’ Id. Wheres Forsyth County was eplit, 72.9 percent of tha total opulatien of Forxayth County allocated to Diatriot 12 18 African- erican, while only 11.1 percent of its total population assigned to neighboring Discrist 5 ig African-American. Id. 920. imilarly, Mecklenburg County ia split so 51.8 parcent of ics otal papulatien allocated to District 12 is African-American, hile only 7.2 pardent of the total population assigned to ndjolining District 3 ia African-American. A similar pattern emerges when analyzing the cities and b owna split betwesn Distrist 12 and ite surrounding districts: Lhe four largest oitiaes asplgned to District 12 are split along racial lines. Yd. 923. For example, where the City of Charlotte ls split between pistrict 12 and sdjacent pistrict 9, 59.47 pus—— ! An equitably populated congressional district in Nozth nayolina needs a total population of about 552,386 pereons using 1990 Census data. Weber Dac. ¥33. - APR-14-98 03:33P M FROM FERGUSON S WALLAS, ADKINS, GRESHAMASUM ~~ +7043345654 kJ 7-583 P.09/42 F-554 percent of the population zssignad to Dlatrict 12 is African- American, while enly B.12 percent of the Charlotte population assigned to District 9 la African-American. Affidavit of Martin B. McGeas {"McGes Aff."), Ex. L. And where the ¢ity of Greansboro ig gplit, 55.58 percent of the population assigned to Dletriar 12 is African-American, while only 10.70 percant of thes population agaigned to District 6 is African-American. Id. An analysis of the voting precincts immediately surrounding Distrist 12 reveals that the legislature did not simply create a majority Democratic district amidst surrounding Republican precincts. For example, around the Southweat edge of Distriat 12 (in Mecklenburg County), the legislatures included within the digtriet's berders several precincts with racial compositions of 40 to 100 percent African~-Amarican; whils excluding yom the district voting pracincts with leas than 1] percont Afrigsn- American populstion, but heavily Democratic voting ragistrations. among Mecklenburg County precincts which are immediately adjacent to Diatrict 12, but net ineide it, are precincts with 58.818 ercent of voters registered as Democrats, and precincts that are 56.464 parcent Damooratia, 54.213 percent Democratic, 59,138 parcent bDemoczatic, 59.225 pezxcent Damocratia, 54,498 parcant hemacratie, 59.038 parcant Democratic, 55.72 percent Democratic, 54,595 percent pemocratic, 54.271 percent Democratic, 63.452 barcent Democzatie, snd 59.453 pordent Demosratic, Id., Bx. P. similarly, Forsyth County preaincta that are immediately adjacent 0, but not inside, Distries 12 include precincts with 57.371 APR-14-88 (03:33PM FROM-FERGUSON, SY WALLAS ADKINS , GRESHAUASUM +7043345654 . 7-583 P.10/42 F-554 percant Democratic registration, 63.253 percent Remocratic registration, 65.747 percent Democratic registration, 65.747 percent Democratic registration, 76 parcent Democratic registration, 55.057 percent Damacratisc ragistratien, 55.307 percent Democratic registration, 56.782 parcent pemocratic reglatration, 55.836 percent Demecpatic registration, and 60,113 parcent Demoaratie registration. Id., EX. O. Finally, District 12 was drawn to exslude precincts with 59.679 percent Democratic registration, 61.86 percant Democratic zestateation, 58.145 [percent Democratic registration, 62.324 percent Democratic registration, 60.203 percent Democratic ragintration, 56.735 percant Democratic reglstration, 66.22 percent bemecratio | registration, 57.273 percent Democratic registration, 55.172 percent Democratic registration, and 63.287 parcent Democratic registration, all in Guilford County. Id., 8x. No On the North Carolina map, District 12 has an irregqulsr phape and is barely contigucus in parts. Its Bouthwest coymner Lies in Mecklenburg County, very close to the South Carolina border, and includes parts of Charlotte. The District moves orth through Rowan County and into Irodell County: There it Jute West to plck up parts of the City of Statesville. Mere than 5 percent of tha Btatesvilles population that is included in nistrict 12 4s African-Amsrican, while only 18.88 percant of the hopulation of Statesville excluded from District 12 is African- hmarican. McGee Aff., Ex. L. ¥rom Statesville, the District poves East into Rowan County. There it dips to the Bouth to 9 APR-14-98 03:34PM oe LR Me FROM-FERGUSON, STUFALLAS. ADKINS GRESHANASUM +7043345654 $ T-593 P.11/42 F-554 {nclude Salisbury, befora turning to the Northeast and entering pavidson County and the City of Thomasville. over 41 parcent of the populations of Balisbury end Thomasville that are included in digtrict 12 are African-American, whils only 15.39 and 8.35 percent, raspactively, of those that sze excluded from the {gtziot are African American. Id. The District makas a orthwesterly incursion into Forsyth County to includs parts of inston-Ealem, where 77.33 percent of the population within jetriat 17 is African-American, and only 16.06 percent of the opulation left out ig African-American. Id. Tha Distriet moves o the East and narrows dramatically before cpening up again to include the predominantly African-American parte of Greensbora, Lore the District ends. objective, numerical studies of the compagtness 3 sengressional districts are also svallatie: In his report, "An pvaluation of North Carolina's 1998 Congrsnsional pistzriatsn,” freZassy Gerald R. Webater, one of the pafendanta' expert ritnagses, presente atatigtical analyses of “gompaxator hompactneas indicators” for North Carolina's congressional yistriots undar the 1997 plan. In measuring the districts’ LJ 10 APR-14-98 03:34PM FROM-FERGUSON, STUHALLAS ADKINS, GRES HAMRSUM +7043345654 ® 7-593 P.12/42 F-554 dispersion compactnass' and parimster compactness,’ Professor Webster offers two of the "most commonly recognized and applied” compactness indicators. Wabster, at 13 (citing Pildes & Niemi, Expressive Harms, "Bizarre Districts,” and Voting Rightas Evaluating Election-District Appearancas After Shaw v. Reno, 92 Mich.L.Rev. 483, 371-573, table 6 (1993) (hexeinafter, "Pildes & Niemi"); apd see Bush v. Vera, 517 U.8. 352, —, 116 8. ct. 1941, 1952, 135 L.Ed.2d 248 (1996) (citing Plldes £ Niami compactness factors ae.supporting evidence for holding three Texas congressional diatricts unconstitutional). In dig¢gcusaing the relative normalay of various compactness sasures, Pildes and Niemi suggest that a nlow" disparaioen Cenearears measure would be equal to or leas than 0.15. Pildes s Niaml, at 584. They suggest that a "low" parimater compactnasa maagure is squal to or less than 0.05. Id. North Carolina's rwelfth Congressional District under the 1937 plan has a Jigparsion ccmpactneds indicator of 0.109 and a perimeter pompactnssd indicator of 0.041. Webster, at table 3. Thess { wpigparsien compactna@s” maasurea the geographic rdisparsion” of a district. To calculate this a circle is hi roumscribed eround a district. Tha FapoTEs. coefficient {is the roportion of tha area of the aizeumgeribed eirgle which in also noludad in the district. This measurs ranges from 1.0 (most Fompact) to 0.0 (least aompact). Waebstar, at 14. 3 wperimater compactnass" is based upon the caloulation of he district's perimetar. The reported coefficient ig the hroportion of the area in the digtrict relativa to a circla with he same perimater. This moasuze xangao from 1.0 (most compact) bo 0.0 (least compact). Webster, at lé. The equation used hare ls (((4 x IT) » Area of district) + (District's Porimeter2)). [ebstar, at tabla 3. 1 a LogagEaBess PAGE 12 APR-14-98 03:34PM FROM-FERGUSON, STUIPHALLAS, ADKINS, GRESHAMASUM +7043345654 s 7-393 P.13/42 - F-554 ' 4 . £igures are much lower than the mean compactness indicators foz Nozth Carolina's twelve congressional districts undar the 1397 plan. The avarage disparsion compactness indicator for tha Btate {s 0.354, and the aversge perimetar compactness indicator is 0.142. Id. The next lowest dispersion compactnass indicator aftar District 12 is the 0.206 in the Fifth Congressional District, and the next lowest perimeter compactness indicster is the Firat Congressional District's 0.107. Id. [5s Zhe plnekfenctocslonil uasik piatrict 1 is another predominantly Democratic district stablished by the 1957 plan. Unlike piatriet 12, it is a ajority-minority digtrict, based on percentages of the total opalatien of the District,’ as 50,27 percent of its total opulation is African-Amarican. 1d., Vol. I Commentary at 10. {strict 1 ‘Le composed of tan of the 22 countien split (n drawing he statewide 12 district 1597 plan. Waker Dec. g16. Ralf of he twerty counties represented in Digtrict 1 are split. Id. Of Lhe ten gub~divided counties assigned to pDistziet 1, four have arts with over 50 parcent African-American population, four thers have parts with over 40 percent African-American opulation, and two others have parts with over 30 percent frican=-American population. Id., 17. In each of the ten countias that sre split between District ¢ While 50.27 percent of the total population of District 1 8 African-American, only 46.54 passin of the voting aye population is African-American, asad on tha 1930 cansus data. Parclotc Aff., Vol. T Commentary at 138. 12 | APR 14 ’98 15:52 +7843345654 PAGE. 13 APR-14-88 03:34PM FROU-FERGUSON, STEIHALLAS, ADKINS GRESHANASUM +7043345654 » 7-503 P.14/42 F-554 ! t J . 1 and an adjacent district, the percent of tha population that is African-American is higher inside the district than it is outside the district, but within the mame county. Id., 919 and Table 2. The dioparltios are less significant than in the county splits invelving Dletsint 12. 1d4., Table 2. T¥or example, whare Baaufort County is split betwsan Districts 1 and 3, 37.7 percent ef the totpl population of Beaufort County allocatad to District }: is African-American, while 22.9 percent of the total population of Beaufort County assigned to District 3 is African-American. Similarly, nine of the 13 cities and towns splic between District 1’ and its neighboring districts are split along secial linea. 1Id., 922. Por example, where the City of New BeZn is split between District 1 and adjacent District 3, 48.27 percent of tha populatien assigned to District 1 ia African-American, while 24.49 percent of tha New Barn population asslgnad to District 3 Ls African-American, McGaa Aff., Bx. L. Viawed on the North Carelinz map, District 1 is not as irregular 48 District 12. In the North, it spans 151.2 miles cross, from Roxboro, Person County, in the West, to Sunbury, ates County, in the East. Affidavit of Dr. Alfred W. 8tuart (“Stuart AfL."), table 1. It is shaped roughly like the state of lorida, although the protrusien to the Sauth from ite "panhandle" is only approximately 150 miles long (to Goldeboro, [layne County, with two irregulazities jutting into Jones, Craven, hnd Beaufort Counties. Caopezr Aff., attachment. These | rregularities surround tha peninsular extension of the Third 13 oi Ply Fr ge. APR 14 ’'98 15:52 +7043345654 PAGE. 14 APR-14-88 03:35PM _ FROM-FERGUSON, STHJALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAMASUN +7043345654 i 1-593 P.15/42 F-554 Hae congressional pletzrict from the East, allowing the incumbent from the pravioys Third Congressional District to retain his residence ithin the boundaries of the same district, and aveiding placing two incumbents in District 1. The "éomparater compactness indicators” from District 1 are muah closet to the Narth Carclina mean compactness indicators than are shots from District 12. For example, pistrict 1 has @& cdaperaton’ aompactness {ndicator of 0.317 and a pozimetor conpactnash {indicator of 0,107. Webster, at tabla 3. This dispersion’ compactnasa indicator is not significantly lowar than the state’ mean indicator of 0.354, and is higher than the dispersion compactness indicators of nigtriets 12 (0.108), § (0.292), ahd § (0.206). Id. It may be noted that Districts 5 and 9 are hext to, and necessarily shapad by, District 12. District L has ao perimeter compactneds {ndicator of 0.107, which is lower than North Carolina's mean perimeter compactness indicator (0, 152), but much higher than pildes and Niemi's suggested Low" perimater compactness {ndicatar (0.08). District 1's perimeter compactness indicator is also much highar than that of District 12 (0.041). Id. | pISCUSSION Tha Equal protection Clausa af the United States Constitution provides that no 8tate "shall deny to any person within ita jurisdiation tha sequal protection of the laws." Us 8. const. amend. 14, § 1. The Unitad States Supreme Court sxplained 5 Miller ¥ Johnnoh, dASebelliimilodllinlis 8: Ct: at 2462, th APR 14 °S8 15:52 +7043345654 PAGE. 15 APR-14-98 03:35PM FROM-FERGUSON,S WALLAS, ADKINS, GRESHAM&SUM ~~ +7043345654 ® T-593 P.16/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIRL LITIGATION 9-716-6763 P4.14.1998 1 P.15S ii - E R a the centzal mandate of the Bqual Protection Clause "ia racial neutrality in governmental decisionmaking. Applicaticn of this mandate clearly prohibits purposeful discrimination between {dividuals on ths basis of races, Shaw ¥. Reno, 50% u.5. 630, 642, 113 ]. Cr. 2816, 2824, 125 L.Bd.2d 511 (1993) ("Ehaw XL") (editing daahington. v, DICE) §26 U.S. 228, 233, 96 §. Ct. 2040, 2047, 48 L.rd.2d 597 (1876)). AB the Suprame Court resognized, howevar, ths usa of this principle in ngleoatoral districting is a most delicate task.’ Millek, 515 v.8., at 905, 115 B. Ct., at 2483. Analysis of suspect districts must begin from tha premise that "[l}awa that explicitly distinguish between individuals on racial grounds fall within the! core of [the Equal Protection Clause's] prohibition.” ghaw I, 50b U.5., at 642, 113 6. Ct., at 2824. Beyond that, however, the Fourtaanth Amendmant's prohibition "extends not juet to explicit racial classifications,” Miller, 515 U.S., at 903, 115 §, ot. at 2483, but also to laws, neutral on thelr face, but runexplaindble on gzounda other than race," Jrlington Hedghfa Vv. Metzopolitdn Housing Develspment Corp., 429 U.8. 252, 266, 57 8. ct. 555, 364, 50 L.Bd.2d 450 (1977). In challenging the cenatitutionality of a State's itasricsing plan, the "plaintiff bears ths burden of proving: the race~based motive and may do 50 either through 'clrcumstantial vidence of a digtrist's shape and demographics' or through 'more Hirect evidences going to lagislative purpess.'" Shaw II, 317 D8, at = 116 8. Ct, , at 1500 (quoting Miller, 515 U.b.y at { 1§ APR 14 ’'98 15:53 +7043345654 PAGE. 16 APR-14-98 03:35PM FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 19-716-6763 84.14.1998 Es a El , ,, — | 916, 115 §. Ct., at 2488). In the final analysis, the plaintise muat show “that race was the pradominant factor motivating the legislature's decision to place a significant numbex of voters within or Without a particular district.” Ig. (quoting Millaex, 51% U.6., At 916, 115 6. Ct., at 2488), Once a plaintiff demonstrates that race was the predominant factor in yedistricting, the applicable standard of review of the new plan 1b vgtriot scrutiny.” Thus, in Miller the Supreme Court held that perio scrutiny applies when race is the "predominant” consideration in drawing the district lines such that "the legislaturd subordinata(s) racs-neutral districting princinles . + . to rholal considerations.” 515 U.S., at 916, 115 8. Ct., at 2488. Onder this etendard of review, a State may sscapo censure while drawing racial distinctions only if it is pursuing a "compall{ng state interast." Shaw II, 517 V.B., at —, 116 BH. ct., at 1902. Howevdr, "the means ahocoen to accomplish the Btate‘s I wien pyrpose must ba specifically and narrowly framed to I ccompliash that purpose." Hyaant v, Jackeon Bd, gf Ed., 476 U.B. R67, 280, 106 8. Ct. 1842, 1850, 90 r.Pd.2d 260 (1986) (op=nicn hE powall, J). As the Supremes Court required in ghaw Il, where Stata's plan has been found to be a racial gezrrymander, that tate must ‘now "ghow not enly that its redistricting plan was in ursuit of a cempalling state interest, but alsc that ita Higetrioting legislation is narrowly tailored to achieva that bompelling interest." 517 u.8., at —, 116 5. Ct., at 1902. 16 FROM-FERGUSON, STRSEAWALLAS , ADKINS, GRESHAMASUM ~~ +7043345654 * 7-593 P.17/42 F-554 1 1 P.16 APR-14-88 03:36PM FROM~-FERGUSON, $ WALLAS, ADKINS, GRESHAM&SUM +7043345654 3 T-593 P.18/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 199-716-6763 B4.14.1998 1 l Ah a pe — We axe cognizant of the principle that "redistricting and Pel? reapportidning legislative bodies is a legislative task which the federal cqurts should make every sffort not to preempt.” Hise v, Liggsonh, 437 v.5. 535, 533, 98 8. Ct. 2493, 2497, $7 L.Bd.2d 411 (1978) Hi omitted). “A State should ba given the opportunity to make its own redistriating decisions so long as that is practically possible and the Etats choosas to take the opportunity. When it deas take the opportunity, the discretion of the foderal court is limited except toc the extent that the plan itaelf vuna afoul of federal law." Lawvar v, Dap't of Justics, = v.85. —, —, 117 8. Ct. 2186, 2193, 138 L.Ed,2d 6&3 (1997) (4 kanal citations omitted). Thus, when the federal courts declare an apportionment scheme uncocnstitutional-as the Suprsma Cojrt did in Ehaw II-it 1s appropziate, "whenever practicablp, to afford a reasonable opportunity for the Lasielaturh to meat constitutional requirxamants hy adopting a substitute maasure rather than for the fsderal court ta devise and order into effect its own plan. The new legislative plan, if forthoominj, will then be tha governing law unless it, too, is challenged. and found to vialate the Gomatitution. “ Ylge, é37 U.8., ot 540, 58 8. Ct., mt 2497. Is The Twelfth Congressional District | As noted above, the final dacisien ef the three-judge panel in haw only approved the 1997 Congressional Redistricting Plan “au an sdeguate remady for the spscifia violation of the individual equal protection rights of these plaintiffs whe ' 17 APR 14 ’98 15:53 +7843345654 PAGE. 18 APR-14-98 03:36PM FROM-FERGUSON, WALLAS , ADKINS, GRESHAM&SUM ~~ +7043345654 ® T-593 P.18/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGRYION "519-716-6763 24.13.1998 19952 P.18 Hl tM ii wm J succasafully challenged the legislature's creation of former pistrict 12." Shaw v, Bunt, No. 92-202-CIV-5-BR, at 8 (E.D.N.C. Sept. 12, b997) In the instant cass, we ere faced with a ripe controversy as to the newly-configured Twalfth Congressional District, 'ohie panel must thus decide whather, as a matter of law, Dlotret 12 violates ths egual protection rights of the plaintiffs who live within the district and challenge its constitutibnality. In holding that District 12 under the 1952 plan was an unaonstitutional racial gerrymander, the Suprems Court in Shaw II noted, "(n}o one looking at Distriet 12 could reasonably suggest that the district contains a ‘geographically eempaat’ population cf any racé." S517 U.G., at —, 116 §. Ct., at 1306. The Shaw ll Court thus' struck the old District 12 as unconstitutional 8 & matter of law. In redrawing North caralina's congressional distriots in 1997 the Gensral Assembly was, of course, aware that pistriet 12 under the 1992 plan had been declared unconstitutional; curing the constitutional deficiencies was one of the 1agLalazizely declarad goals for the redistricting process. Cooper Aff. 7¥5, 8, 10, 14. Defendants now arque that the changes in pistrict 12 batween the 1992 afd 1997 plans are dramatic snough to cure it of ite onstitutignal defects. They point to the fact that the new istrict 1% has lost nearly one~thizd (31.6 percent) of the opulation from the 1992 district and nearly three-fifths (58.4 ercent) ot the land. These numbers do net advance the 18 APR 14 ’'S98 15:83 +7043345654 PAGE. 1S Pefandants} argument or end the Court's inquiry. As Defendants thamselves' note, tha Court's role is limited to detarmining “whether fon proffered remedial plan is lagally unacceptable because it’ vielates anew constitutional or statutory voting rights-that is, whather it fails to meet the same standards applicable, to an original challenges of a legislative plan in , 860 F,2d 110, 115 (4 cir. pleca.” 1988) (citing Upham vy. Saamon., 4%6 U.8. 37, 42, 102 Ss. Ct. 1518, 1521, 71 LijBd.2d 725 (1982)). A comparison of the 1532 Distzict 12 and theipresant District is of 1imited valuas hera. Tha lessue in this cage is whather District 12 in the present plan violates the equal protestion rights of the voters residing within it.’ In , tha Supreme Court described old plstrict 12 as vanuesativianaped. It is approximately 160 miles long and. for much of its length, no wider than the [Interstate]-85 corridor. tt winds ig snake-like fashion through tobacco ceuntry, ginancial centers, add manufacturing aroas until it gobbles in enough enclaves of bleck neighborhoods.” $09 U.5., at §35-636, 113 8. Ct., at 2820-2821 (internal quotations omitted). Viewad without cafarsnce to District 12 under the 1892 plan, tha new District 12 is also "unusually shaped." While 1lts length has been shortenad to approximately 93 miles, it still winds its way from Charlotte to Gresnsbro along the Interstate-85 corridor, making detours to pick up heqvily African-American parts of cities such as sratesvilly, salisbury, and Winston-Salem. It also connects pommunitied not joined in a congrssaional district, other than in | 19 APR 14 S98 15:54 +7043345654 PRGE. 20 APR-14-98 03:36PM Cl El +7043345654 7-503 P.20/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 14:32 P-39 a — —— AE APR-14-98 03:36PM FROM-FERGUSON SYR) VALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAYESUM +7043345654 - 7-593 P.21/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGRTION 919-716-6763 89.19.1998 14:42 P.28 DR = iia lL A the atin 1992 plan, since the whole of Westszrn North Carolina ol: one district, nearly two hundred yaars ago. FPl.'s Brief Opp To Mot. 6.J., at 12. We ed above, wheres cities and counties are split between Distriet 1 and neighboring districts, the splits are exclusively along zacipl lines, and the parts of the divided citice and counties hpving a higher proportion of African-Amaricans are always included in Distriot 12. pafendants argue that the Twelfth hap been designed with politics and partieanship, not rage, in mind. They degoribe the District om a vpamooratlo {sland in p Republican sea," and present expert evidence that political jLosstatensio wag the predominant factor determining the toad of District 12. Affidavit of David W. ("Paterson AfL."), wp As the uncontroverted material facts demonscrate, ¢ lagislators excluded many heavily-Democratic however, border the District. Tha common thread woven precincts from pistriet 12, sven though thoss precincts immediatel gs the districting process is that the border of District 12 enero} to include nearly all of the precincts with African- American pépulation proportions of over forty percent which lie netwaen Charlotta and Greensboro, inclusive. g Am noted above, objective measures of the compactness of District 13 under the 1997 plan reveal that it ls still the most Be scattered of North Carolina's congressional istricts. | When compared to other previously challenged and reconstituted congressional districts in North Carelina, Plorida, 20 +7043345654 PAGE. 21 APR-14-98 03:37PM FROM-FERGUSON STERPHALLAS, ADKINS, GRE SHAMS UM +7043345654 A T-583 P.22/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGRTION 919-716~6763 84,14.1998 14:43 ETRE terol _L = t's dispersion and perimeter compactness indicators Geozgla, Illinois, and Texap, Dletrict 12 doss not fare well, The Dist: e t (0.109 and 0.041, respectively) are lewer than thass values for North daeabtrate District 1 (0.317 and 0.107 under ths 19937 plan). yn the District suffers in comparimen to Florida's (0.541 and 0.411) and Distriot 11 {0.444 and 0.259), Illinels’ istziet 3 [0.136 and 0.05), Georgia's District 2 District &) (0.153 and 0.026), and Texas District 18 (0,335 and 0.180). Rule B6(c) of the Fadaral Rules of Civil Procedures provides that summaty judgment shall be granted if thers is no genuine issue as td any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment ap a matter of law. The moving party muat demonatrate the lack of a genuine issus of fact for szial, and {ig that burden is met, the party oppoeing the motion must show evidence of a genuine fagtual dispute. Calotex Corp, v. Catreit, 477 U.s, 317, 324, 106 B Ct. 2548, 2553, 91 L.®d.2d 265 (1986). sober the uncontravartsd material facts bafore it, the court concludes that tha General Assembly, in redistricting, used exitaria with respect to Distriat 12 that are faclally race driven. District 12 was drawn to collect pracincts with high racial idestifieation rather than political identification. Further, wn uncontroverted material facts demanstrats that precincts with higher partisan representation (that ls, more heavily Democratic prscincta) wers bypassed in thes drawing of al | APR 14 ’S8 15:54 +7043345654 PAGE. 22 0.151), Diptriat 29 (0.38¢ and 0.178), and District 30 (0.383 and APR-14-88 03:37PM FRM=EEREU0N, STR un Aiins, comshpasuy +7043345654 * T-593 P.23/42 F-554 147 P.22 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 @4.14.1998 APE REN ~SSRA S SR i aa 3 pistriet 12 and included in the surrounding congressional digtricts. The legislature disregarded traditicnal districting criteria such as contiguity, geographical integrity, community of interest, and compactness in drawing Distriet 12 in North Carolina's 1397 plan. Instead, the General Assambly utilized rave as the predominant factor in drawing the District, thus violating the rights to egual protection guaranteed in the constitution to tha citizens of Distrist 12.’ To remedy thess constitutional deficlencles, the North carolina legislature must redraw the 1537 plan in such a way that it avoids the deprivation of the voters' equal protecticn tights not to ba classified on the basis of race. This mandate cf ths Court leaves the General Assembly fzee, within its authority, to use other, proper factors in redrawing the 1937 plan. Among these factors, the legislature may consider traditional districting aritaria, including incumbency considasraticns, to the extent consistent with euring the comstitutlional defeats. faa shaw II, 517 U.B,, at —, 116 B. Ct., at 1501 (describing “race- neutral, traditional districting criteria"). II. Zizxst congregsianal District Based on the recozd bafore us, the Plaintiff has failed to patablish that thers are no contested material issues of fuct that would entitle Plaintiff to judgment as a matter of law as to ' Che Supreme Court has indicated that, when drawing pangzassionat districts, race may not ha uged as a proxy fer bolitical characteriatica, Yardor. Bua. 517 U.S. 952, —, 116 5. Ct. 1941, 1956, 138 L.Ed.2d 248 ( ) a 22 APR-14-98 03:37PM FROM-FERGUSON, STYSENWALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAM&SUM +7043345654 - 7-593 P.24/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION "319-716~6763 84.14.1998 17¥%3 P.23 BEE a aaa SS SER District 1. The Court thus denies Plaintiffs’ Metion for Summary Judgment as to that District. Conversely, neither has the Dafendant established the absence of any contested material iesue of fact with respect te the use of race ss the pradominant factor in the digtrieting of Distriat 1 such as would entitle Defendant to judgment as a matter of law, CONCLUSION Based on the Ozder of this Court entexad on April 3, 1998, and the foregoing analysis, Defendants will be allowed the opportunity to correct the comstitutional defacts in the 1997 Congressional Redistricting Plan, in default of which the Court would undertake the task. This Memorandum Opinion, like the Order to which it refers, ig enterad by a majority of the three-judge panel. Circuit Judge Sam J. Ervin, Il, diseants. T™his, the ITAL of April, 1998. TERRENCE W. BOYLE Chief United States District Judge RICHARD IL. VOORHEES United 8tatss District, Judge By1 bed ERRENCE W. BOYLE CRIEF UNITED BTATES DISTR JUDGE FX APR-14-38 03:38PM FROM-FERGUSON, STURIYHALLAS ADKINS GRE SHAMESUM +7043345654 7-583 P.25/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6783 G4.14.1998 NX P.24 — = Atte IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT POR THE EASTERN DISTRICT QF NORTR CAROLINA EASTZRN DIVIBTION No. 4:96-CV=104-30(3) MARTIN CROMARTIE, THOMAS CHANDLER MUSE, QLINNES DODGE WEEKS, R.0. EVERETT, J.K. ROBLICH, JAMES RONALD LINVIILE, and SUSAN HARDAWAY, Plaintiffs, | Eo | JAMES 3B. HUNT, JR,, Governor of the State of North carolina; at al. Defendants. PRVIN, Circuit Judgs, dissenting! in Shaw. vy, Reng, ths Suprems Court gecognized a new cause of action in voting rights lav -- that state legislatures could not msubordinsts traditional daisteigsing principles to racial conniderations in drawing legislative districts without triggering strice scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth asendment. 309 U.S. 830 (1953) ("ahay 1°). Bacauss ths dissrioting plan barore us 1% fundamentally different from the plans struck dawn By tha Court in Sak. lI and its progeny, S88 ¥illar vv. Johnsan, 515 U.B. 900 (1995); Shaws. Hung, 517 U.B. 889, 435 L. Td. 24 207 (1966) (“Fha¥_Il")/ Buak v..Uaxs, 617 U.S. 953, 336 L. Bd, 2d 248 (1956), I do not believe that the Plaintifte have proven ANY APR 14 ’98 15:55 +7043345654 PAGE. 25 APR-14-88 03:38PM FROM-FERGUSON, STURRJHALLAS, ADKINS, GRE SHAMS UM +7043345654 7-593 P.26/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1988 .® P.2S rere OE ERE — Art -. FEES ——— wee violation of their right te the squal protection of tha lave. North Carolina's twelfth congressional district is not a majority-minority dlstrict, {vt wam not creatad as 6 result of grreng-armnirg by the U.%. Department af Justices, and, cantrary to the majority's assertions, it io not 80 bizsrrs or unusual (nn shape that it cannot bs explained by factors othar than race. The plpintitfs' evidence is not Bo convincing as to undermina the seate’s contention that tha 1597 Plan was motivated by a desires ©o veredy the constitutional violations fron the 1982 Plan, to preserve the aven split between Republicans and Democrats in the North Caroling congressional Aslagation, and to protect incumbents py drawing the districts so that each incunbant rasides in 8 saparate aistriot: our acdsptance of tha stata's proffered justigications, abgent more rigorous proof by tha Plalineirgs, is aspaalally appropriate in this context, considering tha defecance that we are bound to accord stats legislative deoleione in guestions of radistricting. Finally, I ind it inconsistent to decide, as the majority has dons today, that the Gansral Assenbly, while engaging in a statg-vide redistricting process, Ua ippernisaibly {ptluenced hy pradeninantly racial considerations in the drawing of ona district (the twelfth) whila evidencing no muah unconssitutional predilection in the other district under challenge (the first), or for that matter, any of North Caralina's pthsr TON congrasaianal districts. Tor thess reasens, I nust raspeotfully gigsant., +7043345654 PRGE . 26 APR-14-88 03:38PM FROM-FERGUSON, STUIIHALLAS, ADKINS, GRESHAIRSUM +7043345654 - 7-593 P.27/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-715-6783 83.14.199¢ 14°44 P.286 I. zn order to prevail on a race-predeminance claim, the pinineiffy must show ‘that race Wass the pradominant " factor pativating thes lagislaturs's dacision to place a significant numbdar of vorars within or without a particular district.” Hilda, 816 U.E. at P16, The principles that Tace oannot be the predominant factor in a legislature's vedistriocting calculus {i¢ simpla. Applying that principle, on the othay hand, is Quits ocorpled, pecduss numexcus factora influence & lagislatuze's districting choices and no one factor may readily bs ldentified as predoninant. tn undertaking this analysis, {Tt is crucial tc nots that in the Datter of vedistrigting, courts ove substantial defaraence to the legislatura, which {s fulfilling "ths wost vital of looal gunstions” and is entrustsd with the “dlscrevion to sxercise the political Judgment necessary te balance compating intaressts.’ ¥illsz, 515 U.6. at 515, Wa presume the legislature acted ir good faith absent a sufficiant showing to ths contrary, Jd. A ptate's radistricting responsibility “should be accorded primacy to the extent possible when a federal court axsroisas ranedial power.’ Lavyar v. Dapaztment 8C Juarics, 138 L. Ed. 24 666, 630 (1987). While the nmajerity and I appear to bs in sgreemant on thssa general principles, tha sajority doed not disauss the extent of the plaintiffs’ burden in proving a cleim of racial gerrymandering. Concurring $n Millsr y, Johnmen, Justices O'Conner ezphasised that the plaintiff's burden in cases of this kind must ke especially vigorous) APR-14-98 03:38PM rrow-Fercuson, STE LAS ok Ns, crests +7043345654 a 7-593 P.28/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-216-6763 84.14.1998 14:44 P.27 J SAAT esd Jf _anaenal GE SUS—— grep. LS in. ay t understand the shrsshold standard the Court adopts . « '. to be » derending ens. To invere @trist acyutiny,; a plaintiff must show that the Stats has relied on Tage in of custcmayy and traditional districting practices. . . . [Alpplication of tha Court's standard helps achiavs Shaw's basic objactive of making of gerrymandering subject to asaningsu udicial ¥aview. Killer, 515 V.8. st 928-35 (O'Conner; J., gonourring) (emphasis added). This principls was rapantly daveloped by a thres~judge panel that upheld onia's 1992 redistricting plan tor ita atats legislatures: As wo apply the threshold anslysia devslaped by the guprens Court in Shaw cases, ve arse mindful of the dangers that 8 lov threshold (swsily &nveking gtriet scrutiny) pases far statas. Ns tharafora follow Justice o'Connor's 1sad in applying a that allows Etates sone degrees of latitudes to cansider race in drawing districts. guiltar vw. Vainawidh, g81 PF. Supp. 1003, 1044 (N.D. Ohio 1997}, aggis, 66 u.s.L.W, 1633 (U.5. Mar. 30, 1938) (Na. 937-388). the Court has rscognized that legislatures often have ‘nixed motives" =- they may intend to drav majority=-minerity dintricts As wall as to protect incumbanta or to accomnoadats other traditional interests. BRugh.v..vara, 135 L. Bd. 2d at 267, In such a cuss, cdurts nust review extrszely carefully tha svidance presented in order to determine whathar an impernisaible raclsl mative predominated. A determination that a state has relied on race in gubstantial disregard of customary and traditional districting practices will trigger strict geyutiny, though strict sarutiny does not apply Rarely Dacause radistricring is performed with conscicusness of race. 1d. Plaintiffs may show that race APR-14-88 03:38PM rrow-rercusoN, Te (LAS ons, resumes +7043345654 . T-593 P.29/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 14: P.28 RT — : ., predcuinated either through direct svidancs cf legislative intent or through circumstantial mvidence, such as the extyrensly gontorted naturs of & district's ghaps and its racial dawographics. JHRAW IZ, 115 L. Ed. 24 at 118-219; MNillsx, 815 U.3. at jit. The Plaintiffs hava presentad no airect svidence that ths Genaral Assembly's intent was to draw digtriot 1inag based OR Tate. tn contrast to the redistricting plans at iseua in North Carolina {n Shaw IX, in Texas in Bush vy. Yara, snd in Georgia in Mlllax wv. Jahnagn, the 1997 Plan was hot dravn with an orticulated desiy¥s to maximize minarity veting participation. In order To succesd on summary judgment, the Plaintifes must tharafcrs presant oirounstantial evidence that the State not only shoved substantial disregard for sraditicnal atstrioting principles, but that the pradominant faator in the legislaturae's decision to aot as ic dud WAS Tago. II, the State has asserted that psverzl criteria wars mora {mportant than race in the Gensral Assembly's creation of ths 1957 Redistricting Plan, Ths Gensral Assambly drav tha 1997 Plan xo rsmedy ths constitutional violations in ths 1353 Flan, te preserve North Carolina's partisan balance of eix Republicans and six Cemacrats, and to svold placing two {noumbents in the sane district. Sas Dagendanta' Br. ig Buggers of Aunnary.Zudgosot at 4- 7 (*pagendants’! BZ."). In qrder to grant Plaintifzs the relief they gesX, thay must prove that the Etats has sunstentislly disragarded 5 —— Logazzases PAGE 29 APR-14-88 03:39PM FROM-FERGUSON, STE) WALLAS ADKINS, GRE SHAMS UH +7043345654 » 7-503 P.30/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 14: P.29 -.. Ril M theses proffored redistricting coritsria, as well as other traditional districting criteria, in favor of race. I believe that che Plaintiffs have failad to meat this buzden. first and goremost, the districts at issue here 8re nee majority-ninorivy Adlstricts.’ I find it of utmost importance that only §3.36% of the voting~age papulation in District 12 ig Atriocan=- Amarican. This fact {mnedlately distinguishes tenis case from the line ©f Suprema Court CRIES that have atruck down racial gerrymandering in North Caroling, Plerids, Georgis, louisiana, and Texas ~- cases that dafins the equal protection inquiry in this aveh. The Court itself recognized this distinction when it recently upheld = Flotida state sanats district that was not a majority-minority district. faa Lawyer. 138 L. 2d. 3d at 680 (upholding state sendts district with 36.3% black vosing-ags population)) aaa.alsg cuilrar vw. Veinavigh, 66 U.8.L.W, 3630 (U8. Mar. 10, 19988) (No. 57-988) (aggixming decision of three-judge panel that rejected 0 racial gerrymandering challenge to ohio | ne Supreme Court has not srticulated whsther diserioct 45 depignated majority-minoriry by rafarance vo voting-age population, hy refsrance to overall population, or by raferancs ta wvotar ragistratien. veting-ags population would seer to be the appropriates benchmark. All pecpls of voting ags have the gapasity te influence slections, whereds those under voting sgs obviously cannot. Counting only vegistered votsrs would otentinlly undercount those with the potsrsial to influence slsotions. tn District 12, 43.36% of the votingeags population is black, wvhils 46.67% of ths total population is black. In Dimtriae 1, 45.57% of tha voting=age populstion is black, while 50.27% Qf the rotal population is black. Undsr none of tha passible ariteria, then, can pistrict 13 be considered a ed einority district. District 1 san only be considered a majority-m nority district vith rafersnce to total population. Bas ! at §. 6 AJ 4 ’'S8 15:56 +7043345654 PAGE. 30 APR-14-88 03:33PM FROU-FERGUSON, STIEERIALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAMSUM +7043345654 ® 1-583 P.31/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 819-216-6763 84.14.1998 14: P.38 a tle aE Rea legislative alstricta that vers not majority-minority). tn its racial composition, pistrict 12 is no different from every ona of Kerth carolina's other sleven congreasicnal districts: the majority of the veting-age population in the distxiot is white. While this may not be aispoaitive of ths question whether T&08 vas tha predoninant factor in the legislature's rediotricting plan, the gact that all of North Carolina's congressional districts are majority-white at the very least makes the Plaintiffs’ burden, whieh is slrsady quite high, even more ONWTOUE. Had the legipiaturs been predominantly {neluanced by a desivs tO draw Digtriot 13 According to Tacs, I suspsat it would have created B digtriot whera Rare Than 43% of tho voting-age population was black, In part becaucs pistriot 13 im not 8 majericy-minoTity district, I find nha reaaon to grodit the Plaintiffs’ gentantion that race was the predominant factor in the legislature's decisions. this is ospecially Crue considering thet the lagislature has proffered several compsliing, nen-zacial factors for its decimslon. : gscond, this case is zapdily distinguishable from previous racial gerrymandering cases because the plan at issue is not the result of North Carolina's acquiescence to pressures from the V.H. Justice Pspartment, acting under {ts Voting Rights aot preclearancs authority. In previous cases in which tre Caurt stuck down challenged districts, tha logisluatures drew the challshgod plans after thelr initial planw nad bssn denied preclaaranca by the Department of Justice whder its *black-maximisation" policy. fas 7 +7843345654 PAGE. 31 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6785 24.14.1998 19:46 APR-14-88 03:39PM FROM-FERGUSON, STREIALLAS, ADKINS , GRESHAHAS UM +7043345654 7-593 P.32/42 F-554 P.3 ea, mm Millar, 51% U.8, at 331, Tor example, in Nillar, the court gaund that the craation of tha unconstitutional district was in direct rasponee to having had Two praviaus plans denied preclearance by the Justice Department. gga id. ("There is 1ittis doubt that ths state's trum intersst in designing the Elevanth District vas areating a third asjority-minericy district to satisfy the Justice Dapartaent's preclearance denands.’). th Abaw XI, ths Court racognized. that North caroline dacided so drav tus majority- minority districts in response to the Juatice Departmant'a danial of presclaarance ts a previous plan. flaw. IT, 138 L. Bd. 2d at 29 (noting that tha avarriding purposs [oF the redistricting plan] was to coxply with the dictatas of the Attorney General's Dau. 18, 1991 letter [denying preclsarance to previous plan] and te cradte twa cengressional districts with affective black voting majorities’) (quotation onlitted). Tn contrast, Whils the Department of Justice granted preclearance ta the plan ar imaus in this case, tha Department did not engage Ln the xing of nrewbeating that the Suprems Court has found offensive in previous racial gerrymandering cases, In the casas I have eited, the Court relied on this direct evidencs, that the legislatures was primarily motivated by race, to invoks strict dorutiny of the challenged diatricts. Unlika those casas, Plaintiffs have prafierad neither diract nar circumstantial gvidangs that the Oaneril Assembly was pressured by ths Department of Justica to maximizes minority participaticn when it radrsv ths congressional distriats {1 1587. In the abeends of such evidence, a gs: 4+ 2043245654 PAGE. 32 APR-14-88 03:40PM FROM-FERGUSON, STEEEWALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAM&SUM +7043345654 7-593 P.33/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-715-8763 04.14.1998 14:46 P.32 Rm 7 hava littls reason to bdalieva tust ths gtate is lass than eandid {n its averments tO this court that race was not the predominant factor used by the legislatura wash crafeing the 1987 redistricting plan. In reaching ite decision, the majority has relied heavily on svidenas that District 12 could have been drawn t¢ includes nare pracingts wvhare a 3ajority of ragietezad voters ars Democrats, but that 4t was hot so drawn, presumably for reddans that can be predominantly explained on no avher Basia but zacs. 7T zannot agrea vith the majority's interpretation of ths avidencas. The Plaintiffs, and the majority opinion, provide anecdotal evidence that certain precincts that border District 12, but wers net included in that district, have a high nunbesr of voters thet ars registered Democrats. Aas AURKA at 8<9, This evidanve does not take into account, however, that voters often do not votes in accordance with thelr registaerad paxty afgziliation. The Btate has argued, and I sse ho reason to discradit their uncontrovertad asaertions, that the district lines wers drawn based on votes for Denotratio candidatas in aatual glagsinng, vathar than the nunber of ragistersd veters. fas Affidavic of Esnator Roy A. Cooper, ; 9p ("Cooper AL£L.%) $0 ("electien rssults wers ths principal factor which determined thas location and eonfiguration af all distriste’). The majority's avidance alec ignoras the sinple fact that the redistricting plan must camply vith the equal prataction principla of "ona payson, One vote.’ Every voter nust go somevhers, yet All districts DUBE ramain ralatively agual in population. Plaintiifs’ C] APR-14-98 03:40PM FROM-FERGUSON, STEPHALLAS ADKINS, GRESHAHGSUM +7043345654 T-593 P.34/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 14:47 P anacdatal evidence suggests that Democratic precincta could have pean included in Tlptziat 22 in certain arsas, had the district only bsan enlarged to includs those places. By necessity, however, chs discrict vould nesd to hava bean rsduasd in sizes in other places in order to pcconnodate the LAcreass in the overall population in the district. Had tha State dravh the lines in the sanner that Plaintifis' evidence tmplice it should have, {t appesrs chat the State aimply vould have traded a Demdstratio praainct in ons part cf the district for a Democratic presinat in another pare. perhaps Sush line-drawving gould have satisgisd the Plaintiffs’ desires that District 32 contain mare than a 378 wnite wajority, but YT do not agrees With ths saiority that the constitution requires it. In contrast To Plaintiffs! anecdotal evidancs (which 8 presantad in an agridavit by Plaintifls’ counsel), the Btate haa presented far nors convineing evidences that rads wad not the predominant gacteor in the General Asserbly's decision to arav oiptrict 12 as it has been drawn. gap Rfgidsvit of Dr. pavid W. Petersen ("Petarsaon Azf."). In his statistical analysis, Professor Fetsrson traveled the entirs circumfarsncs of pistrict 12, looking at both THe party asfiliation and vacisl compasition of the precincts on sithar side of the algtrict line. Based on an analysis of the entire district, Professor Peterson conaludea that ‘the path taken ky ths koundery of the Tvelfeh District oan be =trikutad te political considerations with at leaat ap mah statistical certainty as it can ke attributed te rasial conaidezations.” Petszeon Arf. 13. In other words, examining ths 10 APR-14-88 03:40PM FROM-FERGUSON, SY HALLAS ADKINS , GRE SHAMASUM +7043345654 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 14:47 dL sia po Ul -—t 7-503 P.35/42 F-554 entire circumferences of District 13, rather than relyihg on Plaintigfe’ “pick and chocss’ examples, thers ip no statistical evidence to support tne sonclumien that Tace Was the Ganaral Assenbly's primary motive in drawing District 12. yurthermors, tha majority sass fit to ignore svidesnce dononatrating thar not only did the legislature utilics traditional vacs=neutral distriating principles 4n drawing the Twelfth pistrict's lines, but that theus principles pradominated over any racial considerations. AcooTding to the guprsns Court, thess vracu=nsutral® prinaiples include, Put are not limited toi conpactness, eantiguity, respect for political subdivisions or sopnunitiss of intarest, and incumbency protection. Ass Bush Vv, Yaga, 136 T. Xd. 24 ac 260; Millar, 318 U.S. at 916. The majority Jould Bspparently add Wgsographieoal {ntegrity" to this llst, although I am not clsar what exastly they mean ky ehat.’ Bas AURA at 22. Regardless of what is {noluded on ths list, however, the fact remains that the leglnlature rallied more heavily on these nsutral principles than on Y¥ace When {t choses the boundazies of pimcrict 3d. | The compactness of District 12 is, sdnmittedly, substantially le than What has been deermad to be nidaal” ana 4s tha least compact of all of North Carolina's twelve congresgional districts. ithe term "geographical integrity” doss not appesr in any of the SupEens court's voting rights cases, and the only lowsr oowre 0386 That SNprasL used the term, DaMitt v. Wilson, 836 F. Bupp. 1400, 1413 (B.D: Cal. 1994), did 82 only bacauss it vas a standard ast out in the statats constitution, 1 APR-14- : ~ 4-98 03:40PM FROM FERGUSON, STE) HALLAS ADKINS. GRESHAMASUM +7043345654 T-593 P.36/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.19.1998 14:47 P.35 ES TE Sas aupss at ul (oiting Pildes & Nieml ncoppactnesa factors’). some district, however, must {inevitably bs the least ccupuct; that ¢act alons thersfors 48 net dispositive. And heCRUES pistrict 13 veglscts the paths of majoz {nterstata highway corridars vnich make eravel within ths district extremely easy, it has 8 type of nfunctional cozpactnaas” that is not necessarily reflected by the Pildas & Nieai factors. In addition, District 12 as it currently stands ie contiguous. Contrary to ths majerisy's allusions to wparpov corridors,” Ams ENDIa 8% 7, the width of the district is roughly equbl throughout its length, mea Af2idavit we Br. Garald R. wabstar tbl. 1. pistrict 12 Also Was designed to join a clearly defined ngommynity of intarest! that nas sprung up ameng the innerecicias and along tha mers urban ares abutting the interatats highways that ara ths backbone of the digtrict, I do not sed how anyone san argus that the citizans of, for exaspls, the inner-oity of charletts do hot have more {n common with citisans of the inner citiss eof Statesville and Wwinston-8alam than with their fellow ¥ecklenburg county altizens who happen to Tresids in suburban OT rural arass. the tricky business af drawing borders to protect incumbents alge required the legislature to drav District 12 in the way it did, District 12 had to he drawn in a zanner that aveidad placing poth Congressman Burr's and Cobls's residences inside the district, sxcludsd Cabarrus County, whera Congraeasan Hefner resides, and still providsd enzugh Demacratia votas to protect incumbent 12 APR 14 ’S8 15:38 +7843345654 PAGE. 36 APR-14- : PR-14-98 03:41PW FROM-FERGUSON, SY ALLAS. ADKINS, GRESHAWASUM +7043345654 » 1-593 P.37/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-715-6763 84.14.1998 14:47 p S34, : .36 i congressman Watt's gaat, Aca Coopar Aff. 110. wnat I find to ba the pradocainating factors in draving the 1997 plan, however, Wera tha lsgiglature's damire to maintain the 6-6 partisan balance {nh the Houses and TO protect incumdbsnts. SAA cooper AZZ, $0 (stating maintaining partisan balance was che principal factor driving redistricting). Tnsse Are legitimate interasts which have basen upheld by tha Buprems Ceurt in pravicus voting rights censa, ARS..S.44: Bush v. Vsra, 13% UL. Ed. 2d at 360~- 61, and vere proper Concerns for the legislaturs hers, As I noted pagtors, the majority's decision ta lack only at the percentage of registered Democrats in analyzing the disxriot's borders ignores the foot that registered Demccrdts Bre not aompellaed to vets for nerooratie candidatss snd eften do not. In dvawing piscrict 12, thesrafore, the legislaturs aid not consider magaly the nunber of rogiatared Damoorits., rathor it leoked also to tha history of rgocent voting patterns in an attespt to design thas districts to sersuza that thes partisan balance would remain stables. fue Cooper Aff. 18; Pataraon ALL. 921. Finally, I find it highly unlikely, as the majority has found today, that the General Assembly acted with pradoninantly raalal metivas in its drawing of pigtriet 12, but did not act With the sens motive in ite drawing of District 1. The General Aagenmbly considered the 1397 Redistrioting Plan as single, statewide proposal, end it makes 1{ttle sanss to ms that the Ganeral Assambly would have besn snimatad by pradominantly cacial notivag with respect to the TWelsith pistrict and not ths First. This 13 APR-14-88 03:41PM FROM-FERGUSON, SI) HALLAS ADKINS GRESHAHASUM +7043345654 7-593 P.38/42 F-554 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 14:48 P.37 —_— inconalstency ia even mora apparent when one considers that the legislaturas placed Bars African=Americans in District i (46.84% of the voting-age population) than in District 13. Bince we all agles that the Plaintiffs have galled to prove sny equal proesestion viclation with respect tO the legislaturs's dacision in araving Digtriet 1, T find it unlikely that Plaintiffs! proof would domonstrate otherwise vith regard to other aspscts of the mane redistricting plan. III. Not only do I dissgres vith the majority in their halding the rvelgth Distrist unconstitutional, 1 beliave That ~=- even if the twelfth District ls unconstitutional == thay are in error in anjaining ths ourrant election process, which iu already substantially underway. The rationale for sllawing elections to precasd after a court hos declared them to be constitutionally infirm has basen clearly articulated by the Suprems Court in geynolds v, Bima, 377 U.S. 333, B83 (1964); {0o]nce a Btate's jegialativa appertionmant schena has pgen found to be uncongtitutioral, it would bs the unusual cage in which & eourt vould be justified in not $0eing appropriates actiox to insurs that na gurthar elections are conducted under the invalid plan. Haowaver, under aareain airsunstancad, such as where an impending slaction is imminent and a state's elsctien ge is alzesdy in progress, equitable considsraglions might justify a court In withholding the granting eof {znediatsly effactive rallef in =» - lagislativse apportionment Oale, @Ven though tha sxiating BEporLianant scheme vas found invalld. In swarding or vithholding immediate rellal, a court is sntitled to and should consider the proxinity of & forthooming elestlion and tha Rachanics and complexities of state alaction 14 +7043345654 PAGE. 38 APR-14-98 03:41PM FRoM-FERGUSON SUI) HALLAS ADK NS, GRESHAMES UM +7043345654 ES 7-593 P.38/42 F-554 FROM NC AG SPECIAL LITIGATION 919-716-6763 84.14.1998 13:48 P.32 Ee aud RR a 1ava, and should act and raly upan ganaral equitable principles. With respact to ths timing of velisf, a Gourt can reasonably sadeavor tc avoid a disruption of the slootion process which might rasult from reguiring precipitate cohangas tnat could maka unrepsonable or embarrassing demands on a 8tate in adjusting to the requirements of the aourt's decred. Weighing the squities hare, it ig clear that this (sp one of the JunusualM cases contemplated by Raynalde v. Riza snd thersfors an injunction should not be issued at this point in the slestion oysle. on January 30, 1998, when the Plaintiges filed their motlen gor a praliminary injunction to these alastions, the daadline far candidates to fils far tha primary elesctitns was only four days aVAaYy. voters had already ecantributed over $53 nillien to the congressional candidates of their sholcs, and ths candidates chezselves had epent approximataly §1.3 million on thelr mempaigna. fig Bscond Affidavit of Gary O. Bartlett ("Bartlett sacond Aff.") q1¢ (giving gigures fer tha psriod frem July 3 To Descender 131, 1997). Pallots have slresdy been preparsad, printed, and distributed. Absentes palloting far the primary glactisna bagan on March 16, 3998 and undoubtedly same voters have alrsady cast their votes. The priwary slestians thengalves are mahedulad for Ney 6, only a few short veeks avay. This court's injunation thezafore ureaks Raves en an elactaral process that is in full sving. An indunctian puta ths Novth Coxolina legislature on ths horns of a dilemma. Iz may sheoga to ©un the May 1998 selections as schadulsd for averything but the cargressionnl primaries, and then spend millions of dollars schaduling a saparate sleaction for the 15 APR-14-38 03:41PM FROM-FERGUSON, SY HALLAS, ADKINS , GRE SHAS UM +7043345654 FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 918-716~6783 24.14.1998 14:48 — 7-593 P.40/42 congressional primaries’ -= an election for which fav people are Likely to make a special mein to the mleaticn booth, Or the Stats zay decide to spand millions of dellars to roscheduls thas sntire May slection and affect hundreds of races for offices throughaut ths §tate. Forcing the Btats te ghoase betwesn thesa two aqually unpalatable choices is unzeasonakbls. ta addition, the injunction will disrupt candidates’ campaigning and voter aontributicns to thass campaigns. Redraving tha Twelfth District's boundaries vill inevitahly change the poundariss of the surrounding diatriats, and the ripple effects of this redraving may wall affect RARY other districts in the Stats, as happansd when the 1997 Plan supplantad ths 1893 Plan. congressional candidates cannot be certain wham they will gaprasent or who their opponents will bs until the districts are redrawn. voters likewvige will bs unsure vhather the candidates of thelr choice will end up in their district. Not only will sontributions to candidates and campaigning by candidates bes slowed, if not halted, while tho redistricting takas place, but once the redistriating is completed, candidates and votars will have meant tina to becoma acquainted vith sach other hefore slactions Take place. &ag MaERg. Va. ADR CV=37=C=3078=} (N.D: Ala. N&Xron a4, 1998) (rafusing to snjsin alesctions even though qualifying dete for primszry had not yet pagped bhecauss "(w]oRe energy ie already invested] some parmons have declared their candidacy to represent rhe cost of a single, statewide slection, primary or general, is said to be 94,300,000. 3&8 sartlett Becond Affe. 413. 1€¢ F-554 +7043345654 PAGE. 40 ky mene — a a i APR-14-98 03:42PM FROM-FERGUSON,S FROM NC RG SPECIAL LITIGATION 918-716-6763 WP eLLas ADKINS, GRESHARSUM +7043345654 7-593 P.41/42 ©3.13.1998 14:49 a certain district...Even {7 yvedistrictiny vars narrisd out today, 1¢ would disturk ¢he axpectations of candidates and thelr supportars, end ie would disgupt ths ateta’s conduct of the primaries."); gmich vy. Baagley, 946 F. Supp. 1174, 3333 (bB.§.C. 2956) (vefusing to {psu injunction six waekd pafors gareral election whan u[o]andidazas have already gpent significant tive and money canpaigring, and voters have begun to familiarize thonselves vith tha candidates" Facause delay would disrupt elections unnecessarily ard confuse voters). Aczaord vara wv. Richards, 861 F. Supp. 130¢, 135) (8.0. Tex. 1934), affirznad anh noR. funk Vv. Yara, 138 L. Ed. 2d 343 (1986) (gludirg congresulional districts unconstitutional eleven wvesks befora geharal slections but allowing chen to progesd under yncanstitutisnal apportisnment plan). This will negatively affact che quality of tne repreasntation that citizens of North Caroline roasive in Congress, and aounscls against upasteting the current elsaticns. IV. in ita opinion, the majority conuludes that najicther the plaintiffs nor the State has astaklighed tha absence of a genuine issues of materisl fact that would satitle elthar party to judgment ng & Dotter of law. gag aupcd at did=23. { ncliecve that all material facts saoncerning the vivet District ars uncentroverted _— this panel received the same evidence concerning District I as it did for Diatriot 12. 1¢ summary Judgment ie appropriates far pistrict 12, I mes NO TeaEon why District 1°s constitutionality 17 F-554 +7043345654 PAGE. 41 > APR-14-98 03:42PM eRou-FeRausoN, SE ALLAS ADKINS, GResHAMas uM +7043345654 » 7-593 P.42/42 F-554 FROM NC A6 SPECIAL LITIGRTION 919-718-5763 Z4.14.1998 14:39 P31 a a oannot ke decided on SURREY judgment as vall, The majority is sizply wrong to reguirs the tate to estaniisn the sbpancs of an lsaua of material fact. S48 ERLOLEX Corp. Y. CARERS, 477 U.B. 317, 335 (31986) ("(W]e do not think ... that the burden 4m on the party moving for sunmary Judgmant to producs avidance showing the abgence of & genuina iaowue cf mazerisl famot...."). Because pelinvae that the plaincirgs have fallad to demonétrate thit-tha First congressional pistrict under the 1897 Congressional Restricting Plan is an uncenstitutional classification ‘Based on race, I would grant thse State's motion for SURRATY Judgment, Vv, I agreg with the majority thet Plaintiffs have ¢allpd to mmat chair burden ar summary Judgment As TO pigtrios i, although I would go further und grant the State's motion sor sumnary judgment 8s tO this district, I dlanaent gram tha majority's dealsian gzanting the plaintiffs’ =metion for gunnary Judgment OR pistrict 33, and enjoining alactions unger the 1997 Plan, for ths rsasans stated ahova, I would grant the State's motion for summary Jjuagmant, einding that Plainciifa have not proven & vialation of their right to equal protection af tha lave. 18 ams ENDemw aimm A = . ~ - A =la A