Correspondence from Guinier to Baker
Correspondence
November 6, 1985

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Case Files, Thornburg v. Gingles Hardbacks, Briefs, and Trial Transcript. Order RE: Motion to Quash, with Cover Letter, 1982. ca38a5d3-d292-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/6fe24f30-471a-4ab7-ae5f-b84eed6bbbfd/order-re-motion-to-quash-with-cover-letter. Accessed April 06, 2025.
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x. JULIUS LEVONNE CHAMBERS JAMES E, FERGUSON. II MELVIN L. WATT JONATHAN WALLAS KARL AOKINS JAMES C. FULLER, JR. YVONNE MIMS EVANS JOHN W, GRESHAM RONALD L. GIBSON GILOA F. GLAZER LESLIE J, WINNER JOHN T. NOCKLEBY' . OF O. C. BAR ONLY cHAMBERS, FERGUsoN, wATT, wALLAS, ADKTNS dFullen, p.n ATTORNEYS AT LA\^/ SUITE 73O EAST INDEPENDENCE PLAZ,A 95I SOUTH INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 2A2O2 TELEPHONE (704) 375-A46,1 January 1L, L982 Mr. Napolean B. Williams NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fr:nd, Inc. 10 Coh:mbus Circl-e - Suite 2O3O New York, New York 100L9 Re: Gingles v. Edmisten Dear Napolean: I am encLosing a to the defendant' copy of the Court's Order with reference s motion to quash in the above matter. JLC:md Enclo sure cc: Mr. James SincereLy yours, ,k#e chambers Nabritt , ITT-w/ enc. RALPH GINGLES, et aI. Pla vs. RUFUS EDMTSTEhI , Et AI Def lenging the aPportio the United States Con the court for a rulin the alternative for a tiffs noticed the de Rauch, the Chairman o Legislative Redistric the North Carolina Se Defendants have move testimony sought is i quashing the subpoe that the transcriPts Plaintiffs opPose th cally to the motiott in this litigation. claj-ms, plaintif fs conceived or mgintai Mobile v. Bolden, 44 testimony is sought, the adoptiotr'of the procedural sequence, tionment decision, a legislature, are alI invidious discrimina , FIIJEI) UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR RN DISTRICT OF'NORTH RALEIGH DIVISIO}J lr. RICH LEONARD, u-ERh U, S. DISTRICT COURT E. D!ST. NO. CAR. ntiffs NO. 8I-803-CrV-5 t ndants ORDER This action brou t by black citizens of North Carolina chal- nt of the North Carolina General Assembly and ressional districts in North Carolina is before on defendants I motion to quash subpoenae or in protective order. On December 3, 198I, plain- itions of and subpoenaed Senator l*larshall the North Carolina Senaters Committee on i.g, and Senator Helen Marvin, the Chairman of aters Conrnittee on Congressional Redistricting. to quash the subpoenae on the grounds that the relevant and privileged. In lieu of an order , defendants seek a protective oider.directing e sealed and opened only upon court order. motion to quash but have not responded specifi- a protective order. The testimony s t is plainly material to questions presented In order to prevail on at least one of their t show that the reapportionment plans were d with a purPose to discriminate- City of U.S. 55 (1980). The matters concerning whrch including the sequence of events leading up to portionment plans, departures from the normal the criteria considered important in the aPPor- contemporary statements by members of the relevant to the determination of whether an ; ory purpose t^ras a motivating factor in the IN TH THE E CARoLTNA IJAN 5 1982 decision. Village of Development Corporati without addressing a the depositions, the not prohibit their de litigation and are in statements during Ie Eastland, 387 U. S. 82 of decision in this is "governed by the preted by the courts experience. " F. R. Evi provisi.on establishes the federal common l (1980). It is clear not prevent the testi supra; Jordan v. Hu Herbert v. Lando, 441 For these reaso effort "to insure le supra, 445 U. S. at 37 on legislative debate protective order and sealed upon filing wi ) 5, 1982.January i,f , Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing n, 429 U.S. 252, 267-268 (L977). In general, particular question which might be asked during tters sought are material and relevant. The "legislative privilege" asserted on the Senators I behalf does itions here. They are not parties to this no way being made personally to answer for their slative debate. Compare, 9:9:, Dombrows-ki v. (1967). Because federal law supplies the rule s€r the question of the privilege of a witness inciples of the common larv as they may be inter- f the United States in the light of reason and . 50I. No federal statute 'or consb.itutional such a privilege for state legislators, nor does . See United States v. Gil1ock, 445 U.S. 360 hat principles of federalism and comity also do ny sought here. See United States v. Gillgsk, eson,323 F.2d 597 (4tfr Cir. 1963). Cf., u. s. rs3 (1979) . , the motion to quash must be denied. In an lative independence," United States v. G:ll9cE, , and to minimize any possible chilling effect the court will grant defendants' motion for a irect that the transcripts of the depositions be h the court. ORDERED. F. T. DUPREE, UNTTED STATDS DISTRICT .]UDGE L : :H,::: :".""f "Ji ?# H-il:r' -"1. ni.rt Leonard' Cl:t.k^-..* ij.,# sut* District court Page 2 Carolina