Connor v. Coleman, 75-1184
Citation | 48 L.Ed.2d 295,425 U.S. 675,96 S.Ct. 1814 |
Decision Date | 19 May 1976 |
Docket Number | No. 75-1184,75-1184 |
Parties | Peggy J. CONNOR et al., Petitioners, v. J. P. COLEMAN, United States Circuit Judge, et al |
Court | United States Supreme Court |
This case is here on movants' motion, supported by the United States, for leave to file a petition for writ of mandamus. The motion is granted. Since the District Court may be expected to conform its proceedings to the views expressed in this opinion, consideration of the petition for writ of mandamus is continued to June 17, 1976.
Ten years of litigation have not yet resulted in a constitutionally apportioned Mississippi Legislature. The District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in 1966 invalidated the 1962 apportionment. Connor v. Johnson, 256 F.Supp. 962 (1966). A legislative apportionment that followed was also declared unconstitutional. Thereupon the District Court promulgated its own plan for the 1967 elections. Connor v. Johnson, 265 F.Supp. 492 (1967). Still another legislative plan enacted in 1971 was held unconstitutional by the District Court and another court-ordered plan, this for the 1971 elections, was formulated. Connor v. Johnson, 330 F.Supp. 506 (1971). That court-promulgated plan, however, was stayed by this Court with direction that the Districtourt, "absent insurmountable difficulties," should "devise and put into effect a single-member district plan for Hinds County" by June 14, 1971. Connor v. Johnson, 402 U.S. 690, 692, 91 S.Ct. 1760, 1762, 29 L.Ed.2d 268, 271 (1971). The District Court did not divide Hinds County into single-member districts because the court found that there were insurmountable difficulties.
After the 1971 elections this Court addressed the constitutionality of the 1971 court-formulated plan. Because the District Court had retained jurisdiction over plans for Hinds, Harrison, and Jackson Counties and had stated its intention to appoint a special master in January 1972 to consider the subdivision of those counties into single-member districts, we vacated the District Court judgment, without disturbing the 1971 elections, and remanded with direction to the District Court that "(s)uch proceedings should go forward and be promptly concluded," declining meanwhile to consider the prospective validity of the court-formulated 1971 plan until the proceedings were completed and a final judgment was entered respecting the entire State. Connor v. Williams, 404 U.S. 549, 551-552, 92 S.Ct. 656, 658, 30 L.Ed.2d 704, 707 (1972). The District Court did not appoint a special master.
Thereafter Mississippi submitted the 1975 legislation to the Attorney General of the United States in compliance with § 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The Attorney General objected and accordingly the District Court held a hearing to formulate a court plan for the conduct of the 1975 elections. By orders entered in June 1975 the District Court promulgated a "temporary plan for the election of Senators and Representatives for the 1975 elections ONLY," Motion for Leave to File Pet., App. 85a, and ordered the parties to file alternative permanent reapportionment plans. The District Court's order of June 25, 1975, stated: Ibid. Motions by the United States and movants sought the fixing of a specific date by which a permanent plan would be formulated and the fixing of a definite schedule for special elections. February 1, 1976, was suggested by the movants as the outside date for making a permanent plan effective, and the date of the November 1976 Presidential election as the date for special elections. On August 1, 1975, the District Court entered an order, Motion for Leave to File Pet. App. 88a, stating: "The Court declines to set a deadline of 2-1-76 for completion of a permanent plan for reapportionment . . . but reiterates its firm determination to have such plan approved before 2-1-76; as to all instances in which a special election may be required, the Court expects to direct the same shall be held in conjunction with e 1976 Presidential election . . . ." Proposed permanent plans were thereafter submitted by the United States and movants, and on January 26, 1976, the United States moved that a hearing be held on February 10, 1976, on the proposed permanent plans. However, three days later, January 29, 1976, the District Court denied the motion stating as its sole and only ground, Motion for Leave to File Pet. App. 90a, that "(f)urther hearing and decision of this case will be deferred until the Supreme Court shall have decided cited cases, at which time this Court will bring this case to trial forthwith . . . ."
The "cited cases" ar...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Connor v. Finch Finch v. Connor United States v. Finch 76 935
...Court to enter a final judgment embodying a permanent reapportionment plan for the Mississippi Legislature. Connor v. Coleman, 425 U.S. 675, 96 S.Ct. 1814, 48 L.Ed.2d 295. 9 The District Court thereupon held hearings and entered a judgment adopting a final plan. See D.C.Miss., 419 F.Supp. 1......
-
Johnson v. Mortham
...faith belief that Plan 308 was adopted by the DeGrandy court as a permanent redistricting plan. 23See Connor v. Coleman, 425 U.S. 675, 96 S.Ct. 1814, 48 L.Ed.2d 295 (1976) (per curiam) (Supreme Court ordered district court to adopt "permanent" reapportionment plan for Mississippi Legislatur......
-
Connor v. Winter, Civ. A. No. 3830(A).
...court to enter a final judgment embodying a permanent reapportionment plan for the Mississippi Legislature. Connor v. Coleman, 425 U.S. 675, 96 S.Ct. 1814, 48 L.Ed.2d 295 (1976). The district court thereupon held hearings and adopted a final plan. See Connor v. Finch, 422 F.Supp. 1014 (S.D.......
-
People ex rel. Salazar v. Davidson, No. 03SA133
...Supreme Court ordered a district court to adopt a permanent reapportionment plan for the Mississippi Legislature. 425 U.S. 675, 96 S.Ct. 1814, 48 L.Ed.2d 295 (1976). Then, in Garza v. County of Los Angeles, the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court's adoption of a permanent plan for county sup......
-
The Implementation of Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act: A Retrospective on the Role of Courts
...three dozen reapportionment cases the Court has rendered decisions. - "93 S.Ct. 1702 (1973). =95 S.Ct. 2003 (1975). See Connor v. Coleman 96 S.Ct. 1814 (1976), and Connor v. Finch 97 S.Ct. 1828 (1977). In the former case the Court made only a procedural ruling which allowed the District Cou......
-
The Implementation of Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act: A Retrospective on the Role of Courts
...three dozen reapportionment cases the Court has rendered decisions. - "93 S.Ct. 1702 (1973). =95 S.Ct. 2003 (1975). See Connor v. Coleman 96 S.Ct. 1814 (1976), and Connor v. Finch 97 S.Ct. 1828 (1977). In the former case the Court made only a procedural ruling which allowed the District Cou......