Plaintiffs' Reply to Defendants' Motion to Strike Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction

    FEB-20-88 10:18 FROM-FERGUSON, STEIN, WALLAS , ADKINS +7043345654 T-148 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA 

RALEIGH DIVISION 

P 02/08 F-335 

Civil Acuon No 4.96-CV-104-BO(3) 

MARTIN CROMARTIE, er al., 

Plaintiffs, 
PLAINTIFFS’ REPLY TO 

DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO STRIKE 

PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR A 

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION 

VS. 

JAMES B. HUNT, JR., in his official capacity 

as Governor of the State of North Carolina, 

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Defendants. 
  

Plaintiffs replying to Defendants’ motion to strike Plainuffs’ mouon for preliminary 

injuncuon respectfully show the Court: 

1. When Plaintiffs Cromarue, Muse and former Plaintiff Weeks filed their complaint in 

1996 the case was assigned to District Judge Howard but, although the complaint applied for 

appointment of a three-judge district court. no appointment wus made because of the stay in 

proceedings pursuant to orders entered by the court with the consent of the partes. 

2 When the amended complaint was filed on October 17, 1997, the plainuffs challenged 

cha State's congressional redistricting plan enacted by the Gereral Assembly on March 21,1997 

and as part of the challenge, the complaint applied again for appointment of the three-judge 

district court and moved again for declaratory and injunctive relief. including a preliminary 

Injuncuon. 

3. The Defendants in their unswer did not in any way dispute that the case should be 

heard by 4 three-judge court: and from the filing of that answer late in November. 1997. the 

Plunuffs awaited the appointment of u three-judge district court. which they iniually assumed 

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would consist of Judge Howard and two other judges. Also from time to time. Plainuffs’ counsel 

P.03/08 F-335 

inquired 1n the office of the Clerk of Court and elsewhere as [0 whether the pane! had been 

designated. 

4. In January. 1998, the Plainuffs’ counsel was informed thar the case would be 

considered by a panel consisting of Chief Judge Boyle, Circuit Judge Ervin and Chief Judge 

Voorhies. 

5. Shonly thereafter, on January 30, 1998, Plainuffs filed 2 motion for preliminary 

injunction to give notice that they were continuing to seek the relief that had been sought in the 

original complaint and in the amended complaint, and thereafter, on February S, they filed a 

motion for summary judgment to which were attached five affidavits, and at the same ume they 

filed a brief in support of the mouon for summary judgment. 

6. From the contents of the mouon for summary judgment, the affidavits and the brief, it 

is apparent that they relate to and support the motion for preliminary injunction and sausty the 

purposes of the Local Rule. Moreover, they provide adequate notice to the Defendants of 

Plaintiffs’ basis for seeking the extraordinary relief of u preliminary 1njuncnion. 

7 Asis apparent from the pleadings and affidavits filed by Plainuffs, the basis for their 

seeking a preliminary injunction against the present plan 15 that. 

a) Since January, 1992, North Carolina has conducted its congressional elections 

under a redistricting plan which violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 

Fourteenth Amendment for reasons stated 1n Shaw v. Reno, 309 U.S. 630, 113 

S Cr 23161995). 

The unconstitutional redistricting plan hus been vigorously challenged from the 

outset und by its decision in Shaw v. Hunt, 116 S.Ct. 1894 (1996). on June 13, 

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1996 the Supreme Court made clear that a new plan was necessary 

7-148 P.04/06 F-335 

The new redistricung plan enacted by the General Assembly on March 31. 1997, 

clearly 1s derived from the unconstitutional 1992 plan and because of the close 

relationship between the two plans. the more recent plan is also consututionally 

flawed. 

From the statistics recited in the affidavit of Lee Mortimer, as well as from the 

facts recited in the other four affidavits, it 1s clear that race was a predominant 

motive in drawing the boundaries of the First and Twelfth Congressional Districts, 

as well as of other districts, and the State has offered no justification that will 

survive the “strict scrutiny’ (est. 

WHEREFORE. having responded to Defendants’ motion to strike, Plainuffs respectfully 

|. That for purposes of compliance with the Local Rule, the Court treat the mouon for 

summary judgment, affidavits and brief as having been filed nunc pro nunc on January 30. 1998, 

when the mouon for preliminary injunction was filed. 

_ That the Defendants’ mouon to strike be denied. 

3 That the Court proceed forthwith to hold such hearing. if any. as may appear necessary 

and grant a prel.munary injunction and a permanent injunction aguinst the conunued use by the 

Defendants of the redistricting plan enacted by the General Assembly on March 31, 1997. 

Respectfully submutted. this the _// day of February. 1958. 

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FROM-FERGUSON, STEIN, WALLAS , ADKINS +7043345654 T-148 P.05/06 

hoa 
Robinson O. Everett 

Everett & Everett 

N.C. State Bar No.: 1385 

As Auomney for the Plainuffs 

P.O. Box 586 

Durham, NC 27702 
Telephone: (919)-682-5691 

  

Williams, Boger, Grady, Davis & Tittle, P.A. 

WY Por oA £ Su 
  

"Martin B. McGee dol 

State Bar No.: 22198 

Auommeys for the Plainuffs 

P.O. Box 810 

Concord, NC 28026-0810 

Telephone: (704)-782-1173 

F-335 

+7043345654 PRGE. B85 

 



    
FEB-20-86 10:20 FROM-FERGUSON, STEIN, WALLAS , ADKINS +7043345654 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

T-148 P.06/06 F-335 

I cerufy that I have this day served the foregoing Pluinnffs’ Reply to Defendants” Mouon 

to Strike Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction on the Defendants by mailing them a 

copy thereof, postage pre-paid, to the following addresses: 

Mr. Edwin M. Speas, Jr, Esq. 

Senior Deputy Auormney General 

North Carolina Department of Jusuce 

P.O. Box 629 

Raleigh, NC 27602 

Ms. Anita Hougkiss 

Ferguson, Stein, Wallas, adkins, Gresham, Sumter, P.A. 

74) Kenilworth Avenue 

Suite 300 

Charlotte, NC 28204 

February 11, 1998 Chala 

Robinson O. Everett 

Plainuff for the Attorneys 

  

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