# State Ex Rel. Lockert v. Crowell

> Tennessee Supreme Court · September 7, 1983 · 656 S.W.2d 836

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9763323

## Case

- **Full name:** STATE of Tennessee, Ex Rel. W.B. LOCKERT, Jr., Et Al., Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. Gentry CROWELL, Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee, Et Al., Defendants-Appellants, and Tennessee Voters’ Council, Defendants-Intervenors
- **Court:** Tennessee Supreme Court
- **Decided:** September 7, 1983
- **Citations:** 656 S.W.2d 836; 1983 Tenn. LEXIS 793
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Concurring in part by Brock
- **Judges:** Fones, Harbison, Drowota, Humphreys, Brock
- **Cited by:** 14 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9763323

## Opinion text

BROCK, Justice,
concurring in part; dissenting in part.
I concur in the decision of the Court and in most of the majority opinion. However, I do not agree with suggestions in the opinion that in drawing legislative district lines there is any “necessity of maintaining the racial integrity of [a certain legislative district],” or that drawing a district line in a particular place may be required or justified in order “to prevent the dilution of minority voting strength.”
In my view, the Constitution of the nation and that of Tennessee are color-blind. It is not constitutionally permissible to discriminate in favor of black people any more than it is to discriminate against black people. It is my opinion that in drawing legislative district lines the race, color, religion, ethnic heritage, political persuasion, economic condition, or the like, of the voters or their incumbent representatives are totally irrelevant considerations.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9763323. Public record. Not legal advice.