Supreme Court Hears Louisiana Vote Case

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Supreme Court Hears Louisiana Vote Case for Removal of Racial Designation from LA. Ballots

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- Press Releases
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- 8e7d169d-b492-ee11-be37-00224827e97b

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Press Releases, Volume 1. Supreme Court Hears Louisiana Vote Case, 1963. 8e7d169d-b492-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/daaec6d5-01f7-44e6-a462-9d578fa18705/supreme-court-hears-louisiana-vote-case. Accessed November 23, 2025.

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    PRESS RELEASE EPs 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 
TOCOLUMBUS CIRCLE + NEWYORK19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 

DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS JACK GREENBERG CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY 
President Director-Counsel Associate Counsel 

FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, November 20th * OR 
Thursday, November 21st * 

SUPREME COURT HEARS LOUISIANA VOTE CASE 

WASHINGTON, D.C,---The U.S. Supreme Court was asked today to strike 

down a Louisiana law requiring publication of the race, on nomination 

papers or the ballot, of each candidate for public office. 

Jack Greenberg, Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, 

pointed out in the brief that "the statute unconstitutionally makes 

racial discrimination possible and encourages the practice." 

(The high court will hear a half hour of argument from each side 
Wednesday, November 20th or Thursday, November 21st, depending on 
the pace of previous proceedings.) * 

Louisiana is "requiring disclosure of information with no bona * 
fide public purpose, much less a compelling interest," the Legal 

Defense Fund brief states. 

James M, Nabrit, III was of counsel to Mr. Greenberg during the 
argument. He too is an attorney for the Fund. 

Taking the point a step further, the brief states that Louisiana's 

constitution limits Negro participation in community life just as much 

as the more obvious forms of discrimination and physical segregation. 

The evil of the practice is spelled out by the fact that 

"designation as a Negro (in Louisiana) identifies the candidate with 

a group that is...by state policy, unfit for office." 

Louisiana, the Legal Defense Fund brief shows: 

"has selected a single, highly prejudicial factor for universal 
publication. This denies the individual the liberty to seek office 
and campaign according to his own estimate of effective campaign 
tactics." 

The case is being argued on behalf of Dupuy H. Anderson and 

Acie J. Belton, Negro citizens of East Baton Rouge parish. 

Both were candidates for nomination to the school board in their 

home parish in the Democratic party primary election held June 8, 1962. 

Wade O, Martin, secretary of state, who is charged with enforce- 

ment of the law in question, is named as defendant in the Legal Defense 

Fund complaint. 

Ps - Joining Greenberg and Nabrit, in preparation of the case, were: 

Attorneys Johnnie A. Jones, Baton Rouge; Murphy W. Bell, Bruce 
A, Bell, Leonard P. Avery, Samuel Dickens and Wilmon L. 
Richardson, all of Baton Rouge. 

Michael Meltsner, Norman C, Amaker and Frank H. Heffron, of the 

Fund's New York City headquarters,were of counsel. 

Se — 

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Supreme Court Hears Louisiana Vote Case

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