# Petition — Wise v. Lipscomb > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385004_2658%3A01 ## Record - **Collection:** Supreme Court brief - **Document type:** Petition - **Published:** January 1, 1978 - **Citation:** 437 U.S. 535 ## Text RECEIVED | OCT 71977 (a —_—-——— CLERK SUPREME REOURT. U.S. In The Supreme Court of the United States OCTOBER TERM 1977 No. '17-S29 Wes WISsg, et al., Petitioners, Vv. ALBERT L. Lipscoms, et al., Respondents. PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Ve E. Hout Josern G. WERNER Attorneys For Petitioners 501 Municipal Building Dallas, Texas 75201 SOUTHWESTERN LAW PRESS — DALLAS, TEXAS . (214) 742.3985 SUBJECT INDEX Page Sy Saati i dvds casndaresacérer l FT Makin ede ae a icelk tie hi cess one 2 QUESTIONS PRESENTED .........0cccecccccccecess 2 EAT ee I Ba Cdk ns cc dnc ccscdenttcecens 3 STATEMENT OF THECASE ....... ROSES See ee 4 REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT .............. 7 COPSGRAIIIONN «ai nadin vic bated dda eeddndicteren eee 14 STATUTES, CHARTERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS RG srcdnlidassccdaensdundkienerededénets A-l OPINIONS, JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS BELOW APTUMGRG eo vicicccvendseditdedt ck i cider B-1 APT 0 Sebo kA RN ea C-1 SIE 2 cove konduiasiandessvedninesianoneen D-! PI. vanes wali bumnnnhnmanntnaenebearent E-1 ET hind doses bans tehauhndeseetnteaeneae F-1 IEE 644s stnbinindilin dntinmadkeed anette paces G-1 SEE i vhie'nss tibtdpnaellsnedahed inci casaiie H-1 ** Table of Authorities Cited Cases: Page Beer v. United States, 425 U.S. 130(1976) ......c.ceeeeee. 9 Burns v. Richardson, 384 U.S, 73 (1966) ..........000005 2,7 Chapman v. Meier, 420 U.S. 1 (1975) ..........05. 8,9, 13, 14 Connor v. Finch, ... U.S. ...,97S.Ct. 1828 (1977) ....... 8 Dallas County v. Reese, 421 U.S. 477 (1975) ........ 11, 12,13 Dusch v. Davis, 387 U.S. 122 (1967) .......... taint Mek 13,14 East Carroll Parish School Board v. mMersnelt, 424 DEED ncndsuddantscedededsleeesdceeeess 6,7 Forwood y. City of Taylor, 147 Tex. 161, 214 S.W.2d BOE be vndunns seus enaVosdsvhebwebncweuetebeubeces 9 Gaffney v. Cummings, 412 U.S. 735 (1973) .......... 7, 11, 12 Kilgarlin v. Hill, 386 U.S. 120 (1967) ..........ccceceeeee & Lower Colorado River Authority v. City of San Se MEET hc DA kebndbdareccdoecbeostecece 9 Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) .......... ccc eues 2,7 United Jewish Organizations v. Carey, __U.S.__, Oe ee WOEUOTED 8 co 6bCbde dee detec ecccedeveds 11,12 Whitcomb v. Chavis, 403 U.S. 124(1971) ............ 7,10, 11 White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755(1973) ...... ccc ccc ceeees 10 Constitutional Provisions and Statutes: pS ERIS IEEE FE 9 Table of Authorities — (Continued) Charters, Ordinances and Resolutions: Page Charter of the City of Dallas, 1907, art. Ill, sec. | (Tex.Laws 1907, ch. 71, art. II, sec. 1)... .. eee 3,4, 8,9 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, ch. Ill, sec.9 ....... 3, 5,8 Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, as amended 1973, Ch. TV, 906. 4 .cccccccccdeecccccchecccsccccccecs 3,4, 5,8 City of Dallas Resolution Number 75-0207, sec. | ........ 3,5 City of Dallas Ordinance Number 14800, sec. 2.......+... 4,5 In The Supreme Court of the United States OCTOBER TERM 1977 No. WeEs WISE, et al., Petitioners, Vv. ALBERT L. LIPscoms, et al., Respondents. PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT To The Honorable Judges of Said Court: Petitioners pray that a writ of certiorari issue to review the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, entered May 9, 1977. CITATIONS TO OPINIONS BELOW The opinion of the district court is reported at 399 F.Supp. 782, and is printed in Appendix B hereto, infra, p. B-!. The opinion of the court of appeals is reported at 551 F.2d 1043, and is printed in Appendix D, infra, p. D-1. P i | JURISDICTION The judgment of the court of appeals was rendered and entered May 9, 1977. Appendix C, infra, p. C-1. Rehearing was denied July 13, 1977. Appendix E, infra, p. E-1. The mandate of the court of appeals was issued August 8, 1977. Appendix C, infra, p. C-1. The mandate of the court of appeals was recalled and the judgment of that court was stayed by order by Mr. Justice Powell, dated August 30, 1977. Appendix G, infra, p. G-l. The jurisdiction of this Court is invoked under 28 U.S.C., Sec. 1254(1). QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW (1) May the court of appeals disregard the rule established by this Court in Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964), and Burns v. Richardson, 384 U.S. 73 (1966), that a State’s freedom of choice to devise substitutes for apportionment plans found unconstitutional should not be restricted beyond the clear commands of the Equal Protection Clause? (2) May a State, in fashioning remedies to correct an unconstitutional dilution of the voting rights of one minority group, consider the voting rights of a second minority group, absent a judicial determination that the voting rights of the second minority have been unconstitutionally impaired? (3) May the court of appeals invalidate a state-initiated use of at-large voting based upon the need for representation of a city-wide perspective in municipal government, where there has been no finding that such at-large voting invidiously minimizes or cancels out the voting strength of any identifiable group? 3 STATUTES, CHARTERS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS INVOLVED The case involves the following provisions of statutes, charters, ordinances and reso.utions: (1) Charter of the City of Dallas, Tex. Laws 1907, ch. 71, art. III, sec. 1, at 596: “1. All powers conferred on the city shall, unless otherwise provided i in this charter, be exercised by a mayor and four commissioners, who together shall be known and designated as the board of commissioners, all of whom shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city at large, and shall devote their entire time to the service of the city.” (2) Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, ch. III, sec. 9, at 16: “Section 9. Except as otherwise provided by the Charter of the City of Dallas all powers conferred on the City shall be exercised by a City:Council to be composed of nine members, nominated and elected in the manner hereinafter provided. The members of the City Council shall be elected by the qualified voters of the entire city, and they shall each be elected for a term of two years and until their respective successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified.” (3) Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, as amended 1973, ch. IV, sec. 4 at 19: “All qualified voters of the city shall be entitled to vote for one candidate for each ‘place number’.” (4) City of Dallas Resolution Number 75-0207, sec. 1: “Section 1. That the City Attorney be, and he is hereby directed to notify the Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, that it is the intention of the majority of this City Council to pass an ordinance, when prepared by the City Attorney, which will adopt the present eight residential districts as single member districts, with one individual Councilman to be elected from each of the districts and living in the district, 4 and with three individuals, including the Mayor, to be elected at-large with no residential requirements other than that the candidate live within the City limits of Dallas.” (5) Ordinance Number 14800 of the City of Dallas, sec. 2: “Section 2. As a result of the decision of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in the case of Albert L. Lipscomb, et al. v. Wes Wise, et al., CA3-4571- E, and this Ordinance enacted pursuant thereto, only the qualified voters residing within Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall be eligible to vote for a candidate for Member of Council, Place Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7 and 8, respectively. Every qualified voter of the City shall, in addition, be elig ble to vote for a candidate for Place Numbers 9, 10 and 11.” THE PARTIES Petitioners are the mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Dallas, Texas. Respondents are a class composed of the Negro citizens of the City of Dallas, who were plaintiffs in the district court, and a group of Mexican-American intervenors who were denied class certification in the district court. STATEMENT OF THE CASE The legislative powers of the City of Dallas (see article 1175, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann.) are exercised by an eleven-member city council. At the time this litigation was begun all eleven members were elected at-large from the entire city. Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, as amended 1973, ch. IV, sec. 4, at 19, Appendix A. infra, p. A-1; Lipscomb v. Wise, 399 F.Supp. 782 at 785 (N.D. Tex. 1975), Appendix B, infra, p. B-4. At-large elections in various forms have been used in Dallas since at least 1907. Charter of the City of Dallas, Tex. Laws 1907, ch. 71, art. 5 Ill, sec, 1, at 596, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1; Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, ch. III, sec. 9, at 16, Appendix A, infra p. A-1; Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, as amended 1973, ch. IV, sec. 4, at 19, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1; Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 785, Appendix B, infra, p. B-4. Suit was brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas by Negro and Mexican-American voters who sought a determination that the at-large election ofall » city council members unconstitutionally diluted their voting strengths. Jurisdiction of the district court was based upon 28 U.S.C. Section 1343 (3), (4). The Mexican-American plaintiffs were dismissed from the suit, and the district court rendered judgment that the at-large election of all members of the council was uncon- stitutional. The district court then “gave the City of Dallas an opportunity to perform its duty to enact a constitutionaily acceptable plan”, Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 792, Appendix B, infra, p. B-16, and retained jurisdiction pending the adoption of a plan by the City. The city council reapportioned itself, enacting an ordinance which requires the election of eight members from single-member districts and the at-large election, city-wide, of the remaining three members, one of whom simultaneously serves as mayor. Lipscomb v. Wise, 551 F.2d 1043, 1045-1046 (Sth Cir. 1977), Appendix D, infra, p. D-2; Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 791, Appendix B, infra, p. B-15; City of Dallas Resolution 75-0207, sec. 1, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1; City of Dallas Ordinance No. 14800, sec. 2, Appendix A, infra, p. A-2. The plan enacted by the council was reviewed and found constitutional by the district court. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 6 . F.Supp. at 792, 795, 797, 798, 800, Appendix B, infra, pp. B-16, B-22, B-25, B-26, B-27, B-32. The district court found that the combination of single- member and at-large positions would afford Mexican- Americans a “greater opportunity for participating in the political process.” Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 792. Appendix B, infra, p. B-17. The district court further found that the “need for a city-wide view on the part of the council” also forms a valid basis for partial at-large representation, citing the advantages of having a non- sectional viewpoint expressed in zoning matters, city planning and the budget. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 794, Appendix B, infra, p. B-21. The Court of Appeals for the Fiftt Circuit reversed and remanded, citing this Court's decision in East Carroll Parish School Bd. v. Marshall, 424 U.S. 636 (1976), holding that there was no “special circumstance” which would permit the at-large election of three of the eight council members, and prohibiting the at-large election of any council member other than the mayor. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 551 F.2d at 1048, Appendix D, infra, p. D-9. The court of appeals did not purport to determine the constitutionality of the plan enacted by the city council. All parties petitioned for rehearing, and the court of appeals cenied those petitions July 13, 1977. Appendix E, infra, p. E-1. The court of appeals denied petitioners’ motion for stay of the mandate of that court. Appendix F, infra, p. F-1. The mandate of the court of appeals was recalled and the judgment of that court stayed by order of Mr. Justice Powell, dateu Augus: 30, !977. Appendix G, infra, p. G-1. 7 REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT 1. The court of appeals has established a rule of law in conflict with this Court’s prior decisions by limiting beyond the clear - commands of the Equal Protection Clause a State’s freedom of choice to devise a substitute for an apportionment plan found unconstitutional. This Court has held that when a legislative apportionment plan is held unconstitutional by reason of numerical imbalance or dilution of minority voting strength the legislative body shall be given an opportunity to devise its own reapportionment plan to eliminate constitutional deficiencies. Reynolds vy. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 586 (1964), Burns v. Richardson, 384 U.S. 73, 85 (1966). See also Gaffney v. Cummings, 412 U.S. 735, 751 (1973). If the legislative body timely adopts a remedial apportionment plan, it is subject to review only to the extent that it must meet the “clear commands of the Equal Protection Clause.” Burns v. Richardson, supra, 384 U.S. at 85. If the legislature fails to adopt its own remedial plan within a reasonable time, or if its plan violates the Equal Protection Clause, the district court is authorized to devise and order implementation of a plan. Whitcomb v. Chavis, 403 U.S. 124, 162 (1971). Such court- ordered reapportionment plans must not only satisfy the requirements of the Equal Protection Clause but must also conform to the federal common law of voting rights remedies, which forbids the court-initiated use of at-large voting except under unusual circumstances. East Carroll Parish School Board v. Marshall, supra, 424 U.S. at 639-640 (1976). This Court has never held that state-initiated reapportionment plans are subject to the closer scrutiny by which court-ordered plans musi be tested, but instead has declared that the standards for evaluating 8 the use of at-large voting in remedial apportionment plans differ depending on whether the use of at-large voting is initiated by a federal court or a state legislative body. Chapman v. Meier, 420 U.S. 1, 18(1975), Connor v. Finch, U.S. —__, 97 S.Ct. 1828, 1833 (1977). The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the instant case recognized that the use of at-large voting stems from “Dallas’ longstanding public policy in favor of at-large voting.” Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 551 F.2d at 1046, Appendix D, infra. p. D-5. See also Charter of the City of Dallas, Tex. Laws 1907, ch. 71, art. ILI, sec. |, at 596, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1; Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, ch. III, sec. 9, at 16, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1; Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, as amended 1973, ch. IV, sec. 4, at 19, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1. Cf. Kilgarlin v. Hill, 386 U.S. 120, 123-124 (1967). The court of appeals also acknowledged that the plan approved by the district court was “enacted as a city ordinance following the [district] court's decision that the prior system was unconstitutional.” Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 551 F.2d at 1045, Appendix D, infra, p. D-3. The court of appeals never- theless stated that the council's reapportionment plan could be approved only if “the election plan proposed and formally adopted by the city council is (1) constitutional and (2) otherwise in accordance with the federal common law of voting rights remedies”. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 551 F 2d at 1046, Appendix D, infra, p. D-4, The court of appeals did not purport to determine the constitutionality of the City’s reapportionment plan, but held the plan contrary to federal common law and, therefore, invalid because there appeared to be no special circumstances to justify at-large voting. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 551 F.2d at 1048, Appendix D, infra, p. D-9. 9 The use of at-large voting in the City of Dallas was not initiated or imposed upon the City by a federal court, cf. Chapman v. Meier, supra, 420 U.S. at 18, 19, but instead was initiated by the State more than sixty years before this litigation began. Charter of the City of Dallas, Tex. Laws 1907, ch. 71, art. III, sec. 1, at 596, Appendix A, infra, p. A-1. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 785, 797-798, Appendix B, infra, p. B-4, p. B-27. The plan itself was created as a legislative act of the City Council of the City of Dallas.' The City’s reapportionment plan in its entirety is a “state- initiated apportionment scheme”, in the sense that it was en- acted by a state legislative body. Cf. Chapman v. Meier, supra, 420 U.S. at 14, 18. The use of at-large representation as one aspect of that plan is a device which is “state-initiated”, in the sense that at-large voting was first used in Dallas by act of the Texas Legislature, nearly seventy years ago. Cf. Beer v. United States, 425 U.S. 130, 139 (1976). The use of at-large voting by the City of Dallas, therefore, is “state-initiated” within the meaning of Chapman v. Meier, supra, 420 U.S. at 18; the reapportionment plan enacted by the city council is not a court-ordered reapportionment scheme reviewable under the “unusual circumstances” test applied by the court of appeals; and the plan is reviewable only to the extent that ' In Texas a home rule city such as the City of Dallas derives its powers not from the Legislature, but from the Home Rule Amendment, Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution, adopted in 1912, Lower Colorado River Authority v. City of San Marcos, 523 S.W.2d 641, 642 (Tex.Sup.Ct. 1975). Home rule cities in Texas have been held since that time to have “full power of self-government, that is, full authority to do anything the Legislature could theretofore have authorized them to do. The result is that now it is necessary to look to the acts of the Legislature not for grants of power to such cities but only for limitation on their powers.” Forwood v. City of Taylor, 147 Tex. 161, 214 S.W.2d 282, 286 (Tex.Sup.Ct. 1948). The record suggests no statutory limitation upon the authority of the City of Dallas to adopt a mu- nicipal election plan. 10 it must conform to the “clear commands of the Equal Protection Clause.” Neither the court of appeals nor the district court has held that the City’s use of at-large voting violates the Equal Protection Clause, and the court of appeals erred in reversing the judgment of the district court. The court of appeals by its decision in this case has effectively eliminated the distinction drawn by this Court between court- ordered and state-initiated reapportionment plans and has failed to notice and apply this Court's decisions limiting review of state- initiated reapportionment plans to the clear commands of the Equal Protection Clause. This decision of the court of appeals has caused every legislature and political subdivision within the Fifth Circuit to be subjected to a standard never sanctioned by this Court and clearly in conflict with this Court's prior decisions, and the writ should be granted to resolve that conflict. 2. The court of appeals has held, contrary to prior decisions of this Court, that the effect of the City’s reapportionment plan on Mexican-American voters cannot be considered absent an adjudication that the voting rights of Mexican-American voters have been unconstitutionally impaired. This Court has held that multi-member districts and at-large elections do not per se violate the Equal Protection Clause, Whitcomb v. Chavis, supra, 403 U.S. at 142 (1971), and the incorporation of at-large voting in a state-initiated remedial apportionment plan does not violate the “clear commands of the Equal Protection Clause” unless the use of at-large voting invidiously cancels out or minimizes the voting strength of racial groups. White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755, 765-766 (1973). A successful equal protection challenge moreover must be based on findings in a particular case that a plan in fact operates to dilute the voting strength of an identifiable element of the voting population. Dallas County v. Reese, 421 U.S. 477, 480 (1975), Whitcomb v. Chavis, supra, 403 U.S. at 144. This Court also has declared that the permissible use of racial criteria in legislative reapportionments is not confined to eliminating the effects of past discriminatory districting or apportionment. United Jewish Organizations v. Carey, __U.S. ____, 97 §.Ct. 996, 1007, 51 L.Ed.2d 229, 243 (1977). The Court similarly held, in Gaffney v. Cummings, supra, 412 U.S. at 752- 754 that a legislative reapportionment was not invidiously discriminatory simply because districts were based upon a principle of “political fairness” designed to perpetuate an approximately proportional representation of the Republican and Democratic parties. Although there had been no judicial determination that the voting rights of Republicans or Democrats had been impaired unconstitutionally, the Court held valid a reapportionment based upon proportional representation of political parties, saying “. . . neither we nor the district courts have a constitutional warrant to invalidate a state plan, otherwise within tolerable population limits, because it undertakes, not to minimize or eliminate the political strength of any group or party, but to recognize it and, through districting, provide a rough sort of proportional representation in the legislative halls of the state.” Id., 412 U.S. at 754. The district court in the instant case, having found the city council's plan constitutional, declared that Mexican-Americans in Dallas “do not suffer from present dilution of their voting strength”, Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 793, Appendix B, infra, p. B-19, and made extensive findings of fact which support its ultimate conclusion that the incorporation of 12 at-large voting into the plan would enhance the opportunity of Mexican-American voters to participate in local electoral politics. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 793-794, Appendix B, infra, p. B-19. The court of appeals did not purport to determine the constitutionality of the council's plan but disregarded the findings of the district court because the district court had not found any unconstitutional impairment of Mexican-American voting rights. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 551 F.2d at 1047, Appendix D, infra, p. D-7. There is no finding in this case that the partial use of at-large voting dilutes the voting strength of any identifiable element of the voting population; therefore there could be no valid basis for a determination by the court of appeals that the plan violates the Equal Protection Clause. Dallas County v. Reese, supra, 421 U.S. at 480. The conclusion of the court of appeals that the voting rights of Mexican-Americans cannot be considered absent a finding of unconstitutional dilution is directly contrary to this Court's decisions in United Jewish Organizations v. Carey, supra, and Gaffney v. Cummings, supra, and cannot serve as a basis for invalidation of the council's plan under any standard of review. The decision of the court of appeals is in conflict with decisions of this Court insofar as the decision of the court of appeals purports to require an adjudication of unconsti- tutionality as a prerequisite to recognition of the voting rights of any identifiable group, and the writ should issue to resolve that conflict. 3. The court of appeals has invalidated the State's use of at- large voting based upon the need for representation of a city-wide perspective in municipal government, even though neither the 13 district court nor the court of appeals found that such use of at- large voting would minimize or cancel out the voting strength of any identifiable segment of the voting population. This Court has approved local government apportionment plans which utilize at-large representation, Dusch v. Davis, 387 U.S. 112 (1967), cf. Dallas County v. Reese, supra, and has indicated that representation of city-wide views may form a rational basis for the use of multi-member districts. Chapman v. Meier, supra, 420 U.S. at 20 n. 14. The district court found that the city council's constitutionally permissible preference for partial at-large representation was based on the council's responsibility for policies which affect the city as a whole, as well as those which affect geographic or demographic segments of the city, and that a non-sectional viewpoint is desirable in matters such as zoning, formulation of the budget and urban land use planning. Lipscomb v. Wise, supra, 399 F.Supp. at 794, Appendix B, infra, p. B-21. The court of appeals wholly disregarded those findings and did not purport to determine the validity of the City’s interest in representation of a city-wide perspective on the council. The court of appeals nevertheless declared the council's plan invalid, although there are no findings of fact on which to base such a determination. See Dallas County v. Reese, supra, 421 U.S. at 480. The court of appeals by its invalidation of the council's plan without a finding of invidious discrimination has rendered a decision in conflict with this Court's decision in Dallas County v. Reese, supra. The court of appeals by its disregard of the City's preference for at-large voting in response to the need for a city- 14 wide perspective has rendered a decision in conflict with this Court's decisions in Dusch v. Davis, supra, and Chapman vy. Meier, supra, and the writ should issue to resolve these conflicts. CONCLUSION Petitioners pray that this petition be granted and that a writ of certiorari issue to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Respectfully submitted, LEE E. HOLT JOSEPH G. WERNER Attorneys for Petitioners Dallas, Texas 75201 (214) 748-9711, Ext. 294 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 1, Joseph G. Werner, a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, certify that copies of the foregoing petition were served on James A. Johnston, Esq., Sylvia M. Demarest, Esq., Edward B. Cloutman, Esq., Walter L. Irvin, Esq., and George Solares, Esq., Attorneys for Respondents, on this the 6th day of October, 1977, by placing in a depository of the United States Postal Service three copies of the petition, with first class postage prepaid, addressed to each of the attorneys named above at his or her post office address, in compliance with U.S. Sup. Ct. Rule 33(1), (3b). ©PH G. WERNER A-l APPENDIX A (1) Charter of the City of Dallas, Tex. Laws 1907, ch. 71, art. III, sec. 1, at 596. “1. All powers conferred on the city shall, unless otherwise provided in this charter, be exercised by a mayor and four commissioners, who together shall be known and designated as the board of commissioners, all of whom shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city at large, and shall devote their entire time to the service of the city.” (2) Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, ch. III, sec. 9, at 16: “Section 9. Except as otherwise provided by the Charter of the City of Dallas all powers conferred on the City shall be exercised by a City Council to be composed of nine members, nominated and elected in the manner hereinafter provided. The members of the City Council shall be elected by the qualified voters of the entire city, and they shall each be elected for a term of two years and until their respective successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified.” (3) Charter of the City of Dallas, 1931, as amended 1973, ch. IV, sec. 4 at 19: “All qualified voters of the city shall be entitled to vote for one candidate for each ‘place number’.” (4) City of Dallas Resolution Number 75-0207, sec. |: “Section |. That the City Attorney be, and he is hereby directed to notify the Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, that it is the intention of the majority of this City Council to pass an ordinance, when prepared by the City Attorney, which will adopt the present eight residential districts as single member districts, with one individual Councilman to elected from each of the districts and living in the district, and with three individuals, including the Mayor, to be elected at-large with no residential requirements other than that the candidate live within the City limits of Dallas.” A-2 (5) Ordinance Number 14800 of the City of Dallas, sec. 2: “Section 2. As a result of the decision of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in the case of Albert L. Lipscomb, et al. v. Wes Wise, et al., CA3-4571- E, and this Ordinance enacted pursuant thereto, only the qualified voters residing within Districts 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7 and 8 shall be eligible to vote for a candidate for Member of Council, Place Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7 and 8, respectively. Every qualified voter of the City shall, in addition, be eligible to vote for a candidate for Place Numbers 9, 10 and Hi APPENDIX B Albert L. Lipscomb, et al. v. The Honorable Wes Wise, Mayor of the City of Dallas, et al. Civ. A. No. CA-3-4571-E United States District Court, N. D. Texas, Dallas Division March 25, 1975. MEMORANDUM OPINION MAHON, District Judge. This challenge to the present electoral system for the Dallas City Council has progressed a winding path to trial. Filed in 1971, the suit was originally dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. On appeal, the Fifth Circuit remanded with clarification of what plaintiffs’ burden would be in these circumstances. Lipscomb v. Jonsson, 459 F.2d 335 (Sth Cir. 1972). I. Plaintiffs originally purported to represent the black population residing within an identifiable area of the City of Dallas, but prior to December 9, 1974, no order certifying this cause as a class action was entered. The Court originally began to hear testimony on this matter during the week of July 15, 1974. After approximately one and a half days of testimony, the Court, on its own motion, and out of an abundance of caution, sus- pended testimony pending resolution of the possibility that the matter might have been one of state-wide rather than local concern, and therefore appropriate for a three-judge court deter- mination. The case was determined to be one appropriate for a single judge to hear, and the cause was reset for hearing for the B-2 week of December 9, 1974.! On the day of the trial, the Court entered an order, certifying the matter as a class action; the class consisting of all blacks residing within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas. The order also denied a pending motion for leave to intervene on behalf of certain Mexican-Americans as parties plaintiff. This denial was the specific right of the proposed intervenors to participate in any subsequent hearing that may be held concerning the manner of appropriate relief if the present election system was held to be constitutionally defective. The order provided in part that: “It appeared that on the initial filing of this lawsuit on the 10th day of March, 1971, there were included as plaintiffs members of the Mexican-American Class and the action was on behalf of all the minority groups including the Blacks and Mexican-Americans who live within the City of Dallas. The defendants sought to elicit written interroga- tories from all of the plaintiffs. Certain of the plaintiffs refused to respond to the interrogatories and upon contact by their counsel continued to refuse to respond. Included in this group were all of the Mexican-American Race originally included as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Upon motion duly made and hearing had, the Court dismissed from the lawsuit all of those members of the plaintiff's class who refused to respond to written inter- rogatories. Included within this group were all those of Mexican-American descent. Prior to the entry of this Order the plaintiffs had amended their pleadings by their Second Amended Original Complaint and included in the Amended Complaint were both the Black and Brown citizens of Dallas. However, counsel determined that after all of the Mexican-American ' Tex. Const. Art. VI, § 3, Vernon’s Ann.St., in essence provides that all qualified electors within a city shall have the right to vote for all elective officers of a city. See also, Tex. Const. Art. V1, § 3, and Vernon's Tex.Rev. Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 1175(1963). See however, State v. McAllister, 88 Tex. 284, 31 S.W. 187, 189 (1895), which holds Tex.Const. Art. VI, § 3 not to bea bar to the election of city aldermen by wards. On July 22, 1974, Chief Judge Brown of the Fifth Circuit advised the Court that he had declined to constitute a three-judge court in this cause. B-3 plaintiffs were dismissed, and having no individual Mexican-American plaintiffs, that they could no longer represent the Mexican-Americans as a class and therefore urged the Court to consider this an action with the class being those Black citizens residing within the city limits of the City of Dallas. After a portion of the case had been presented to the Court and the trial had been commenced and recessed, the intervenors filed their motion on July 16, 1974, for the purpose of intervening on behalf of the Mexican-American citizens in the City of Dallas. The testimony previously presented to this Court shows that this class represents approximately 8% of the population of the City of Dallas, the housing pattern is such that they are spread throughout the city limits of Dallas and are not a predominant factor in any concentrated census tract groups, and in view of these facts, the Court is of the opinion that to allow the inter- vention at this time would result in many difficulties in the management of this case as a class action and it would result in a delay that would possibly take the case beyond the time of the City Council election and the time that candidates need to file their candidacy. Moreover, the Court is of the opinion that to permit this intervention at this late hour would not assist the Court in resolving the issue of the constitutionality of the present at-large svstem.” After this order was entered, testimony was resumed on the question of whether the existing manner of electing members of the Dallas City Council was constitutional. On January 17, 1975, the Court found the present system of electing members to the Dallas City Council constitutionally infirm. Dallas was afforded an opportunity to come forward with an apportionment plan which would meet constitutional standards and testimony was heard on the merits of the city’s proposal the week of February 4, 1975. Testimony at the remedy stage took over two days. Il. This suit is not the conventional one person one vote reapportionment case; rather it is an attack alleging dilution of B-4 the racial minority vote. The dilution is said to arise from operation of the at-large system of electing Dallas City Council which provides that every candidate for council run city wide, and face all the voters of the city. The Dallas City Charter requires that the city be divided into eight residential districts for City Council elections. Any person seeking election for any of the “places” on the ballot corresponding to the eight districts, must reside in the respective district. Three members, including the mayor, run without regard to any residence requirement. Voting for all eleven council seats is at-large, that is, on a city wide basis, regardless of the residency requirement. A majority of all votes cast for the councilmen, for the place for which the person is running, is required for election. Dallas adopted its present council/manager form of government in 1931. Prior to that time it had a commission form of government, but since at least 1907, members of the city government have been elected on an at-large basis. The number of positions on the City Council has been enlarged from time to time, the latest chanye being in 1968 when, by charter amendment it was increased from nine to the present eleven seats. The City Council elects from among its members two councilmen to hold the positions of Mayor Pro-Tem, and Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem. As noted above, all positions to council are elected by vote of the entire city. The alleged dilution of the black citizens’ vote was said to have its genesis in the racially segregated housing pattern present in the City of Dallas. Plaintiffs’ uncontradicted evidence showed the existence of what was variously called a minority or inner city area. The characteristics of this geographical area were developed by use of United States Census demographic data and the area was described as being more or less continguous, extending from the city’s South side, north to the city’s central business district, curving northwest across the business district to the city’s Love Field area. Within this area are located some B-5 forty-odd standard statistical community census tracts as defined by the United States Census Bureau. Plaintiffs’ experts gave testimony concerning the racial and socio-economic composition of the minority area and offered exhibits in summary. The black population of Dallas is 210,227.2 The evidence shows that the minority area contains a black population which is 90% of all residents in the area. This means that nine out of every ten residents are black, of all the black residents in the city of Dallas, 93% reside within this area; of all the black residents of Dallas County, 95% were shown to reside here. In addition to the distinct racial composition of the inner city area, other characteristics were shown. A less desirable rating on many economic indicators of well-being were shown to exist here. For example, housing was shown to be generally of less value and of lower quality in the inner city area. The median grade level of schooling attained by residents of this area was shown to be less than for the non-minority areas. Unemployment was higher. Median income was lower. In general socio-economic indicators purporting to show “quality of life” were less favorable when compared with other areas of Dallas. The voting patterns of the inner city area in relation to the voting patterns of the rest of the city with regard to elections for City Council positions were examined. The testimony was concerned with who carried the black area and how that candidate fared in the city elections at large. Examples from five elections demonstrate the pattern which emerged from this testimony. The first two elections concern place three for the subsequent elections years of 1959 and 1961. The 1959 election presented a black vs. white contest. The black candidate in that election polled some 87% of the votes from the above-described inner city. His white opponent polled some 73% of the vote from the non-minority area. The result, when translated into vote totals, gave the white candidate a 65% total of all votes cast and 2 United States Census Data, 1970. Unless otherwise stated 1970 census data is used for all population and percentage figures. B-6 made him the election winner. The 1961 election pitted a black against two white opponents. Here, the black candidate played the role of spoiler, forcing a run-off between his two white opponents. In the first election the black candidate garnered 81% of the black area’s votes. In the white areas he gathered a scant 15%. The relative percentages left him as low man in the three- way race and eliminated him from the run-off. In 1965, the place eight election is illustrative of the pattern. This was a two-way race, black versus white. The black candidate carried the black area with 86% of the vote; the white candidate carried the white area with 75% of the vote. The total vote percentage gave the white candidate 62% making him the winner of the election. In 1969, the place ten race was three-way involving one black against two whites. The black carried the black area with 42%, The two whites (together) pulled about 83% of the white area's vote. No run-off was necessary however because here one of the whites received 59% of the total votes within the city. The 1971 election showed a corollary situation for place ten. Here, two black candidates ran against a single white candidate. Together the black candidates received 60% of the black area vote. The white candidate received 68% of the vote from the white areas, which was 63% of the city wide total. This, of course, made him the winner without the necessity of a run-off. The Court feels that it is this voting pattern which is the key factor to understanding the dilution present in Dallas. A description of Dallas political life would be incomplete without reference to the non-partisan slating groups. Like so * The Court also notes that participation by the black community i political processes of the city has generally improved in the past few sears. In other areas, particularly, responsiveness of Dallas to minority concerns, improvement has been spectacular during this believes however that post litigation changes in these regards are similar to specifically rejected as to bearing on dilution itself. oy v. oo 485 4 1297, 1307 (Sth Cir. 1973) (en banc). In evalua new has & = city presented, however, this B-7 many large cities, partisan politics in the “party” sense of the word does not exist. The Republican and Democratic Parties simply do not field candidates. Instead, the politics surrounding Dallas City Council elections turn on the influence of slating groups. The slating group which has enjoyed dominance in the sense that it has been extremely successful in getting its candidates elected is the Citizens Charter Association (hereinafter C.C.A.). The C.C.A. has as its express goal the maintenance of good municipal government, specifically as embodied in the council/ manager form. Testimony by one active participant in the affairs of C.C.A., an ex-president, gave insight into its functioning.‘ C.C.A. has enjoyed considerable success with its candidates. Testimony shows that in the eight elections held since 1959, C.C.A. endorsed candidates have won in 82% of the races involved. This history shows that of seventy-five C.C.A. endorsed candidates, sixty-four triumphed at the polls. This is an 85% success rate. The record affirmatively shows that since 1907 only two blacks have been elected to the Dallas City government. The first black to be elected was the present Mayor ProTem, Mr. George Allen. Mr. Allen testified for the plaintiffs in the first stage of the trial and for the City at the remedy stage. His testimony is that he was first elected to City Council in 1969, but only with C.C.A. support. This support was said to have been the result of a campaign bargain in the 1967 election to the effect that the black support for C.C.A. endorsed candidates would be linked to support for a Charter Amendment increasing the size of City Council from nine to eleven and that one of the two new seats * Uncontradicted testimony shows that CCA is an election year phenomenon and is only concerned with Dallas council elections. During off election years the association has no permanent governing body or officer except the president. With the approach of a council election, the president initiates activity by naming various election committees which in turn hold meetings and select candidates. Historically, CCA grew out of a reform movement in the 1930's which was aimed at correcting abuses of the old commission form of government by infusing citizen participation into governmental affairs. B-8 would go to a black person. This bargain was apparently kept by all parties. The Charter Amendment was passed, the size of the City Council was increased, and Mr. Allen was supported for a position by C.C.A. and won in 1969 with 71% of the vote. His Opponent in that election was also a member of the black race. The other black person to be elected to City Council was also endorsed by C.C.A. Mrs. Lucy Patterson ran in an all black contest for place eight in 1973. She had a plurality in the general election and went on to win in the run-off with 53% of the vote total.> The above-mentioned facets of the Dallas redistricting question must be viewed in an historical context. Dallas, located in the state of Texas, inherited by default some of this state's history of official race segregation. There is evidence, however, that Dallas also participated in this history of discrimination. However unpleasant it is to face that history, it cannot be avoided. Dallas’ participation in that history is before-the Court in large measure by stipulation of the parties. A review of those stipulations shows among other matters the following: a. The original charter for the City of Dallas written in 1907 contained a section entitled “Segregation of the Races.” This section was amended through 1952 and was carried forward as part of the charter until it was repealed in 1968. This section authorized the City Council to pass city ordinances providing the use of distinct blocks, for the housing, for amusement, for churches, for schools, by members of the “white” and “colored” races, b. In 1937 the City Council passed on ordinance regarding separate spaces in commercial motor vehicles for white and black ’ The racial composition of the present city council is two blacks (one male and one female), one Mexican-American (male) and eight whites (one of whom is female). The Court notes this composition as being more indication that circumstances have ch nged for the better since the institution of this lawsuit and while of not the quantity to overcome the Court's finding of dilution, these changes are again of consequence in considering the proper remedy in this matter. See note 2, supra. B-9 passengers. A penalty was established for those who rode in spaces not designated for the race of the individual involved. c. In 1942 the City Council adopted a resolution which enumerated the requirements which a taxi cab owner must have met before the cab would be permitted to carry Negro passengers. d. In 1961 the City Council agreed to contract for the engaging of ambulance service and burial of Negro paupers. e. In 1973 the City of Dallas City Council recognized by resolution that there is “unequal law enforcement, dual justice and unequal treatment for the different segments of the community and different races.” There are other similar ordinances included by stipulation but these four will suffice for example. There was additional testimony from several witnesses concerning this history and the negative impact it made on the black community generally and specifically on the political life of that community. Two currents make up the equal protection argument swirling around reapportionment cases. The original *tream is the one person, one vote concept. This principle of equal protection is offended when some votes carry more weight than others. Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 84 S.Ct. 1362, 12 L.Ed.2d 506 (1964). One person , one vote came to Texas local governments in 1968. Avery v. Midland County, Texas, 390 U.S. 474, 88 S.Ct. 1114, 20 L.Ed.2d 45 (1968). Dilution is the other more recent current. This concept involves election schemes conceived or operated as devices to further racial discrimination and a corresponding lesser degree of opportunity to participate in the political process. Whitcomb v. Chavis, 403 U.S. 124, 91 S.Ct. 1858, 29 L.Ed.2¢ 363 (1971). The Supreme Court in recognizing that multi-member districts inherently apply the one man, one vote concept, stated that circumstances of a particular case may operate to minimize or cancel out the voting strength of racial or political elements of the voting population. Whitcomb v. Chavis, supra, citing Burns v. Richardson, 384 U.S. 73, 86 S.Ct. 1286, 16 B-10 L.Ed.2d 376 (1966); Fortson v. Dorsey, 379 U.S. 433, 85 S.Ct. 498, 13 L.Ed.2d 401 (1965). The Fifth Circuit panel reviewing the initial dismissal of this case on appeal outlines several factors by which plaintiffs could show lack of participation in the political process of the life of Dallas. Lipscomb v. Jonsson, Sth Cir., 459 F.2d 335 (1972).° Since that appeal, the Supreme Court has given additional guidance to the circumstances which have a bearing on the opportunity to participate. In Graves v. Barnes, 343 F.Supp. 704 (W.D.Tex. 1972), affd in part sub nom.; White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755, 93 S.Ct. 2332, 37 L.Ed.2d 314 (1973), Texas legislative reapportionment was under scrutiny. White noted that the Supreme Court had entertained claims that multi- member districts were “being used invidiously to cancel out or minimize the voting strength of racial groups . . . [and] to sustain such claims, it is not enough that the racial group allegedly discriminated against has not had legislative seats in proportion to its voting potential. The plaintiffs’ burden is to produce evidence to support findings that the political processes leading to nomination and election were not equally open to partici- pation by the group in question, that its members had less opportunity than did other residents in the district to participate in the political processes and to elect legislators of their choice.” White, supra, 412 U.S. at 766, 93 S.Ct. at 2339, 37 L.Ed.2d at 324. Looking at this standard, the Supreme Court observed several factors upon which the three-judge court had predicated their nolding that the existing scheme was invalid) Among these factors was the history of official race discrimination which at times touched the right of Negroes to vote. Other factors included the number of blacks elected under the existing scheme and the correlation between the endorsement of the white dominated Slating organizations and electoral success. White, supra, at 755, 93 S.Ct. 2332, 37 L.Ed.2d at 324-25. * These factors include a showing that minority residents are ignored in selection of candidates; slating group operation combined with a high correlation between endorsement and election, and the high cost of city- wide campaigning. Lipscomb v. Jonsson, 459 F.2d 335, 339 (Sth Cir. 1972). B-11 Plaintiffs’ ultimate claims in the case sub judice reduce to the question of whether or not the electoral scheme for the Dallas City Council operates to minimize or cancel out the voting strength of racial elements of the voting population. This question was considered with regard to a court approved apportionment plan involving a parish school board and police juries, wherein at large elections the juries were provided in a Louisiana parish where the so-called racial minority commanded a majority of the entire parish population. The Fifth Circuit stated that the proper measure for measuring dilution of minority voting strength is not population but rather access to the political process. Zimmer v. McKeithen, 485 F.2d 1297, 1303 (Sth Cir. 1973) (en banc). The Court reviewed the Supreme Court decisions dealing with dilution or restriction to access and high- lighted the various factors which could contribute to the showing of the fact of dilution. Included among these factors are: 1. a lack of access to the process of slating candidates; 2. the unresponsiveness of legislators to particular minority concerns; 3. a tenuous governmental policy underlying the preference for at large districting; 4. the existence of past discrimination in general which would preclude effective participation in the election system. Zimmer v. McKeithen, supra, at 1305. Two recent cases by the Fifth Circuit illustrate some ramifications of dilution. In Robinson v. Commissioner's Court, Anderson County, 505 F.2d 674 (Sth Cir. 1974); a panel of the Fifth Circuit considered dilution in the content of manipulation of district boundaries, i.e., gerrymandering. There reapportion- ment of the County Commissioner’s Court was considered for a Texas county wherein whites comprosed approximately 75% of the population and blacks 25%. The major city in Anderson County is Palestine. The city’s racial composition was 74% B-12 white and 26% black. The greatest concentration of blacks within the county was within one section of Palestine and 83% of the population of this section was black. In this section of Palestine approximately 26% of Anderson County’s total black population resided. Anderson County is as are all Texas counties, divided into four precincts for the purposes of electing county commissioners. The redistricting scheme under scrutiny in Anderson County was drawn in 1969. It divided the black section of Palestine, Texas, into three separate precincts. In other words, the black community was segmented and divided for the purpose of electing County Commissioners. The panel upheld a district court finding of dilution. It was frag- mentation of what was otherwise a “cohesive voting community” that was crucial to the finding of dilution. Robinson v. Commissioner’s Court, Anderson County, supra, at 679.7 In Reese v. Dallas County, Alabama, S05 F. 2d 879 (Sth Cir. 1974) (en banc), the Fifth Circuit sustained a finding of dilution in an apportionment plan which did not involve race. Here the disparity was between rural and urban segments of the county’s population. Dallas County, Alabama, is also divided into four districts for the purpose of electing County Commissioners. The district containing the City of Selma, Alabama, contained approximately half of the total population for the county. The three other districts divided the remainder of the population unevenly. The plan involved at large elections with a resident place requirement. In other words, for each of the four districts, a candidate for that district place on the County Commissioner's Court must reside within the district, although he was voted on at large. All voters of Dallas County, Alabama, vote for all four ” The trial court in Robinson v. Comm'r Court, Anderson County, supra, apparently found that the dilution present in that case was the result of a purposeful scheme “designed precisely to dilute the black vote...” This Court Stresses that in the case of the City of Dallas that there has been no evidence of any design or purposeful intent to dilute the vote of any of its minority citizens. Rather, it is in the operation of the exclusive at-large election plan in combination with the existence of a historical pattern of discrimination which supports the finding of dilution B-13 commissioners and only one of the candidates residing in each district can be elected. With this election scheme, dilution was found with regard to the urban voters of Selma. The Selma voters were “forbidden to elect resident commissioners in proportion to their numbers . . . Unlike residents of Selma the other voters in Dallas County [Alabama] can choose their proportional share of the representative body, from among .. . candidates who can... be expected to share their interests.” Reese v. Dallas County, Alabama, supra, at 883. In other words, the scheme involved a minimizing or cancelling out the voting strength of a group that had an identifiable set of common interests. In Reese, the groups with an identifiable set of common interests were divided along rural and urban lines. In the instant case the landmarks of the set of common interest are racial. From these two cases it can be seen that the fact of dilution can be present in a variety of voting schemes, even when the one person, one vote concept is adhered to. Dilution was found with single-member districts when a concentrated group with common interests was split up diffusing its strength over three districts. Robinson v. Commissioners Court, Anderson County, supra. Likewise, in Reese, with an at-large scheme, dilution occurred where candidates were required to be residents of unequally populated districts and the districts had obvious distinctions in “identifiable sets of common interests.” Reese v. Dallas County, Alabama. Based on these standards, it is clear that the present system of requiring all members of the Dallas City Council to run at-large on a city wide basis involves dilution. In this regard, the Court believes that two factors are of particular significance. These are the existence of past discrimination in general, which precludes effective participation in the electoral system and a customary lesser degree of access to the process of slating candidates than enjoyed by the white community. These factors are crucial when viewed in the historical context of the city and state.* ® See, however, notes 2 and 4, supra. B-14 The mere existence of a definable minority area wherein some 90% of all black residents in the city live, the Court believes, is itself a lingering effect of past official race discrimination. There appear to be other lingering effects and these include the lesser degree of opportunity available to black residents to meaningfully participate in the election process in the City of Dallas. This lesser degree of opportunity is best shown by the voting pattern I have found to exist for the city: Black voters, that is, those residing in the inner city area, vote for black candidates, giving them at least a plurality, and usually a majority of their votes, and the white community, the non-minority voter tends not to vote for the black candidates. This is dilution. In other words, when all members of the city council are elected at large, the significance of this pattern of blacks carrying their own areas and yet losing ona city wide basis is that black voters of Dallas do have less opportunity than do the white voters to elect councilmen of their choice. Another shadow of dilution is found in the high correlation between endorsement by the C.C.A. and victory city wide. Meaningful participation in the political process must not be a function of grace, but rather is a matter of right. Graves v. Barnes, 343 F.Supp. 704, 726 (W.D. Tex. 1972), aff'd in part sub nom. White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755, 93 S.Ct. 2332, 37 L.Ed. 314 (1973). The Fifth Circuit in Zimmer v. McKeithen, supra, noted several factors to be considered in establishing dilution. As noted above, one of those factors is responsiveness of legislators to particular minority concerns. Dallas presented much evidence on the city’s present responsiveness. It is the Court's view that if present responsiveness of the city to the particular interests of the black community (or for that matter the brown or white communities), were the sole issue which determined dilution, then I have little doubt that there would be no finding of invidious discrimination. There has been ample demonstration of the fact that Dallas is acting for the needs of all its citizens— B-15 parks, street services, police and fire protection, transportation, equal employment opportunity, fair housing and community relations. In these areas and more I find the city to be acting ina responsible manner—in a responsive manner. This present responsiveness, however, is not enough to justify the present exclusive at-large voting plan when weighed against the other factors which I have found. III. On January 17, 1975, I made preliminary oral findings of dilution which rendered the exclusively at-large system of voting unconstitutional. After being given time to consider its legislative responsibilities, the city offered its plan and plaintiffs in response, offered two proposals which they felt would be an effective remedy for the dilution which the Court had previously found. The Mexican-American intervenors as permitted by the Court’s order of December 7, 1974, participated in this hearing and elicited testimony as to the effect that the city’s plan and the plaintiffs’ two plans would have on the Mexican-American voting population of Dallas. Additionally, evidence was heard on behalf -of some dissenting members of plaintiffs’ class who supported the general concept of an exclusive single-member district plan, but disagreed with the implementation of this concept as exemplified by plaintiffs’ two proposals. The election scheme presented by Dallas is a combination, single-member district and at large voting plan. It provides for eight single-member districts and three at-large positions including the mayor (hereinafter sometimes called “city’s plan” or “eight/ three plan”). The eight council persons elected from the respective eight single-member districts must reside within the district they represent and are to be elected by a majority vote of the residents of their district. The three at large seats have no residency requirement and are elected by a majority vote of all votes within the entire city. One of the at-large council seats is designated as mayor. The district boundaries are essentially the B-16 same as the resident district boundaries under the exclusive at- large voting plan.’ Plaintiffs presented two alternative plans. Their Plan D provides for ten single-member districts and a mayor who would be elected at large. Each council person would reside in and be elected by a majority vote of his respective district. The mayor would have no residency restriction (hereinafter “ten/one plan”). Plaintiffs’ alternate plan provides for each of the eleven council members to be elected from a district and would have the mayor selected by the council members themselves from one of their number (hereinafter “eleven/zero plan”). The Court considered each of the three plans presented, with the spirit of the Supreme Court’s mandate in Chapman v. Meier, 420 U.S. 1, 95 S.Ct. 751, 42 L.Ed.2d 766 (1975) in mind. That is, that reapportionment is primarily the responsibility of state legislative bodies and not the federal courts. In the case at bar, an existing method of electing city council was found to be constitutionally defective. That plan was declared invalid and this Court then gave the City of Dallas an opportunity to perform its duty to enact a constitutionally acceptable plan. I find that it has met that duty in enacting the eight/three plan of electing council members. The initial question encountered when considering the city’s plan, is whether or not any plan providing for some at-large voting would, under the circumstances of this case, pass constitutional muster. This is especially true when it is features of % The population variance of the eight districts is not in issue here. The district boundaries were redrawn in 1972 partly in response to this litigation. Plaintiffs’ original claims included allegations of unproportional districts and population inequality. After the City Council redrew the district lines plaintiffs subsequently abandoned these contentions. The Court finds that there is substantial equality of population among the eight districts presented by the city’s plan. Upon its initial presentation to the Court, the city’s plan met objection as to the lack of precision in district boundaries. The city subsequently tendered its plan with modifications to meet these objections. See, defendant's exhibit No. 95 showing census tract composition of districts and defendant's exhibit No. 96 showing so-called field note description of boundaries. B-17 the at-large scheme which contributed to the initial finding of dilution. The starting point for such an examination is the observation that while single-member districts are not consti- tutionally mandated as such, they are definitely the preferred approach. Chapman v. Meier, supra; Connor v. Johnson, 402 U.S. 690, 91 S.Ct. 1760, 29 L.Ed2d 268 (1971). This preference may yield, however, where particular circumstances justify a variation. The particular circumstances which would justify such a variation are twofold. The first situation is where “significant interests would be advanced by the use of multi-member districts and the use of single-member districts would jeopardize constitutional requirements . ..” Zimmer v. McKeithen, 485 F.2d 1297, 1308 (Sth Cir. 1973) (en banc). The second situation contemplates use of multi-member (or at-large) districts where, they “afford minorities a greater opportunity for participating in the political process. . . .” Zimmer, supra, at 1308. I conclude that the city’s plan falls squarely within the second situation suggested by the Fifth Circuit in Zimmer, supra, and permeates to a large extent the first area of circumstances described therein. This conclusion is based upon a consideration of the impact that any plan would have on the Mexican-American citizens of Dallas, intervenors in this cause,’ and the legitimate governmental interest to be served by having a city-wide viewpoint on the City Council. Chapman v. Meier, 420 U.S. 1,95 S.Ct. 751,42 L.Ed.2d 766 (1975); Fortson v. Dorsey, 379 U.S. 433, 437-438, 85 S.Ct. 498, 13 L.Ed.2d 401, 404 (1965). The Mexican-American population of Dallas is 10 Mexican-A merican intervenors presented no plan as such, which in their view would alleviate their situation. Generally, they supported the single-member district concept, but testimony clearly showed that in order to have a single- member district plan in Dallas wherein Mexican-American citizens constitute a majority in a single-member district at least twenty districts would be required. Other suggestions included some form of cumulative voting for council seats, concentric districts around the city and noncontiguous council districts. The Court believes that these suggestions are completely void of merit and would do nothing constructive for either the nena emcee aanaceie ademas aire iar nrg B-18 approximately 67,073, representing some eight to ten percent of the total. The 1970 census data reflects the eight percent figure. Testimony by plaintiffs’ expert and others indicate that Mexican- American census data tends to be understated for a number of reasons, primarily because of the lack of precision in determin- ing who is a Mexican-American.'! Undisputed is the fact that the Mexican-American citizens are diffused and spread out through all areas of the city. In their case, geographic assimilation has been in large measure achieved. Within the limits of Dallas there are only four census tracts which have a majority Mexican-American population, that is, over fifty percent. The testimony shows that Mexican-Americans have, however, endured some amount of unofficial race discrimination, which has in the past existed in the State of Texas and the City of Dallas. Plaintiffs’ expert testified in essence that Mexican-Americans are restricted in their access to the political process but that the restrictions here are to a lesser degree than that for blacks. Witnesses from the Mexican- American segments of the Dallas population, of course, said that the discrimination suffered by them was just as pernicious as any suffered by the black population. The dissenting plaintiff agreed that the Mexican-Americans have suffered some degree of politi- cal discrimination in the City of Dallas. The Court finds that Mexican-American citizens of Dallas have suffered some restric- tions of access to the political processes within the city but that this restriction does not amount to present dilution. In the case of the Mexican-American citizens, the restrictions involved are difficult to precisely evaluate because of the diffuse residence pattern of the Mexican-Americans throughout the city and the population totals involved. What is not difficult to ascertain is the fact that Mexican-Americans do have a significant interest in 't These are technical matters of census classification. For example, in some instances being a Spanish surnamed citizen is a basic standard; other considerations may be whether or not the nerson speaks Spanish in the home or whether Spanish is the native lanzw.ge of the person. Apparently, the totals used by the city even include a very small number of citizens who are of Puerto Rican origin. B-19 the subject matter of this litigation and the Court finds that intervenors are an identifiable minority group with the constitu- tionally protected right not to be invidiously excluded from par- ticipation in the political life of Dallas. White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755, 93 S.Ct. 2332, 37 L.Ed.2d 314, 325-26 (1973). The re- striction of access which is present for the Mexican-Americans is of a similar nature to that this Court has found to exist for the black voters of Dallas, but it differs in at least two aspects. In the case of black voters, one factor in establishing dilution was the operation of white dominated slating groups; for Mexican- American voters, any restriction of access caused by slating group operations in the at-large system would not be alleviated by the institution of exclusive single-member district voting, in and of itself. Additionally, the slating group operations, while in some respects restricting access for Mexican-American citizens, also permit them as a group to operate in a “swing-vote” manner and give them opportunity they might not otherwise have had. On balance, | conclude that Mexican-American citizens do not suffer from present dilution of their voting strength, and in fact. benefit to a significant extent from at-large voting. C/., Bradas v. Rapides Parish Police Jury, 508 F.2d 1109 (Sth Cir. 1975). This Court is unwilling to penalize the Mexican-American commu- nity for its successful efforts to date in assimilating to the degree they have into aspects of the life of Dallas.' In an exclusive single-member district plan the Mexican- Americans must, because of their lesser numbers, form voting coalitions with either black or white voters; that is, because of their diffuse resident pattern, Mexican-Americans will always be a minority group with either a black or white majority. They are in a double-bind situation. The Court finds that an exclusive single- '2 Compare this assimilation with the high concentration of black citizens residing in the inner city area. Testimony suggests that single-member district voting tends, in some cases, to amplify segregated housing patterns. It would be indeed ironic if a remedy for dilution of voting strength resulted in a major impediment to minority citizens enjoying their constitutional rights. See, page 5, supra. B-20 member district plan would do nothing to increase the oppor- tunity for Mexican-American participation in the political life of Dallas and might tend to decrease it. Because of the voting patterns in Dallas, i.e., black voters tending to vote for blacks, white voting for whites, the browns will invariably look to coalitions with either blacks or whites in order to maintain political viability. This is a political fact of life for the Mexican- American voters in the City of Dallas. I find that presently Mexican-Americans have to some degree entered into the policy- making structure of the C.C.A. and other slating groups, and have their voices heard on the highest levels of these organi- zations as well as within the city government. In other words, the Mexican-Americans have entered to some intent into the political life of Dallas through the present at-large system. At- large voting may operate in part as a restriction of access for Mexican-Americans as it has been for blacks. At the same time however, it is clear that at-large voting offers features which allow greater participation in the political processes within Dallas for Mexican-American voters, that would be unavailable in an exclusive single-member district voting plan. Significant interest of both black and Mexican-American segments of the voting popula’ a wil! be advanced when the city’s plan is implemented ight single-member districts will permit black voters a greater degree of access and participation in the political process of Dallas. Likewise, the eight single-member districts will, in combination with the three at-large positions, enhance the opportunity of the Mexican-American citizens of Dallas, to utilize their voting potential in a significant new way, while not undermining the degree of participation they have enjoyed under the exclusive at large voting plan. Mexican- American citizens will, under the eight/three plan, have a heretofore unavailable flexibility and greater opportnity to participate in the political life of Dallas. Zimmer v. McKeithen, supra, 485 F.2d at 1308. Any redistricting plan which did not B-2! consider the interest of the Mexican-American community would be suspect from a constitutional point of view. Here we deal with two separate minority groups, each with a significant interest.'? This interplay of district minority interest is markedly similar to the “singular combination of umique factors” which justified a multi-member apportionment plan in Mahan v. Howell, 410 U.S. 315, 333, 93 S.Ct. 979, 35 L.Ed.2d 320, 335 (1973)."4 There is another consideration which supports some measure of at-large participation in Dallas municipal government. That is the need for a city-wide view on the part of council. The council has responsibility for policies which affect the city as a whole, as well as those which affect specific geographic and demographic parts. Several members of the present council and the present City Manager presented the view that having some members of the City Council elected on a city-wide basis would be desirable. This desire for some at-large seats was said to be because of the need for a non-sectional viewpoint in resolving matters such as zoning (the Council functions as a zoning appeal board), budgetary considerations (the Dallas City budget is formulated on a city-wide basis) and city planning. Concern was expressed that exclusive sectional or district voices being heard on these matters would be detrimental to the city’s interest as a whole. The Court finds that these interests are of significance in considering any remedy which might be advanced. Chapman v. Meier, supra, 420 U.S. at 20, 95 S.Ct. 751. That there is some need for a city- wide interest to be maintained in the government of Dallas is admitted by plaintiffs in their presentation of the ten/one plan. Here, as noted before, one council seat, designated as mayor, is elected city-wide. The evidence is controverted on the point of 3 v. Meier, 420 U.S. at 19, 95 S.Ct. 751 where there ee any pl, onlin plan affecting different minor- ity groups differently. 4 All factions in this lawsuit provided the Court with testimony from black. white and Mexican-American citizens in support of their particular plan(s). B-22 whether or not the mayor of Dallas is merely a ceremonial mayor with essentially council duties. What is undisputed is that the mayor does have the same council duties as any other council member, and to that extent, he may be considered just a councilman. So it appears that it is merely a question of degree as to how much city-wide representation on these legitimate issues is to be present; three as with the city’s plan, or one with the plaintiffs’ ten/one plan. The Court believes and so finds that there is a legitimate governmental interest to be served by having some at-large representation on the Dallas City Council; that this governmental interest is the need for a city-wide view on those matters which concern the city as a whole; e.g., zoning, budgets, and city planning; and that three at-large members do not render the city’s plan constitutionally infirm.’ Chapman v. Meier, supra; Fortson v. Dorsey, supra. Furthermore, as the Supreme Court has recognized, at-large representation may be of benefit to all persons of the area from which the particular legislator is elected. “{s]ince . . . [the]. . . tenure [of the legislator] depends on the county-wide [in our case city-wide] electorate, he must be vigilant to serve the interest of all the people in the county [city], and not merely those people in his home district.” Fortson v. Dorsey, 379 U.S. 433, 85 S.Ct. 498, 501, 13 L.Ed.2d 401, 404 (1965). The case sub judice presents just this type of situation wherein at large representation will be of significant benefit because of the particular nature of the city-wide interest to be served. '* 15 Budget and services certainly do not stop at district boundaries. Other areas of particular concern for Dallas as a whole include downtown revitalization process. What the Court is attempting to avoid is approving any remedy which does not, on balance, enhance constitutional opportunities for all citizens of Court is particularly concerned with the prospect of district sectionalism which usually occurs im 2n exclusive single-member B-23 . The demographic pattern of the eight districts in the City’s plan is: Population Deviation Percentage of Council Total from Mean A i cas Population 105,551 a aden 105,599 +.00045 2.08 7. 2 105,529 ~.00020 fey aoe 3 105,759 +.00197 5.96% 7.00% 4 105,676 +.00118 3.63% 3.20% 5 105,433 -.00112 0.26% 10.60% 6 105,604 +.00050 73.60% 7.20% 7 105,353 -.00196 0.40% 5.00% 8 105,448 -.00098 87.30% 3.44% There was some initial concern by the Court by the relatively high concentration of black voters in District 6 (73.60%) and District 8 (87.30%). This concern was directed to the question of whether this concentration presented cluster dilution. ' It is relatively easy to find cluster dilution where it can be shown that district lines are drawn with a purpose or intent to racially discriminate. Wright v. Rockefeller, 376 U.S. 52,84 S.Ct. 603, 11 L.Ed.2d 512, 515(1963); Rockefeller, 376 U.S. 52, 84 S.Ct. 603, 11 L.Ed.2d 512, 515 (1964); Gomillion v. Lightfoot, 364 U.S. 339, 81 S.Ct. 125, 5 L. Ed.2d 110 (1960); Howard v. Adams County Board of Super- visors, 453 F.2d 455, 457 (Sth Cir. 1972).'* In this case, however, the evidence is clear that racial gerrymanoering was not the pur- pose or intent of the district lines formulated in 1972 and readopt- ed by the city as a result of this litigation.'® I find that the eight '’ Compare with fragmentation dilution as presented in Robinson ¥ Court, Anderson County, 505 F.2d 674 (Sth Cir. 1974). acer " See, note 7, supra. See, note 9, supra. ——— ee B-24 districts of the city’s plan follow natural and rational boundaries and that no gerrymandering is present. Generally, the boundaries of each district are major thoroughfares, rivers, creeks, or city limits. For example, a significant portion of the boundary be- tween Districts 4 and 5 (two “white” districts) is Northwest Highway (Loop 12). Likewise, a good part of the district line he- tween Districts 5 and 7 (again two white districts) is the G.C. & S.F. Railroad right-of-way. The Trinity River is the district line sepa- rating Districts 7 and 8 (a “white” and a “black” district respect- ively); the river also separates two “black” districts, 6 and 8. Finally, the boundary between Districts 6 and 7 (a “black” and a “white” district) is in large measure, White Rock Creek. The only possible factual situation presented by the evidence which could support a finding of racial intent in drawing district boundaries is the percentages of minority voters contained in each district. In this case I find that although the percentage of black voters con- tained in Districts 6 and 8 is somewhat high, the concentration in and of itself does ot amount to dilution of the black vote.”° The Supreme Court encountered a similar situation in Wright v. Rockefeller, 376 U.S. 52, 84 S.Ct. 603, 11 L.Ed.2d 512 (1964). Plaintiffs in that case argued for a finding of racial intent in drawing boundaries and attempted to show that it “was impossible to have districts . . .[as presented there] . . . unless they were drawn with regard to race’. . .” Wright v. Rockefeller, supra, at 54, 84 S.Ct. at 604, 11 L.Ed.2d at 514. There were four districts involved in Wright. One was 94.9% white. One was 86.3% black and Puerto Rican and two were approximately 72% 2 It is apparent that different district lines could be drawn under an eight / three plan to achieve different proportions of minority population. In fact, city const considered and vletnd os eiemiaties GaRtn aioe black voters a majority in three districts (one with approximately 66%, one with 62% and one with 61%). There was some testimony on what constitutes a “safe” district, but this Court is not concerned with safe districts, only con- stitutional ones. Whitcomb v. Chavis, 403 U.S. 124, 156-60, 91 S.Ct. 1858, 29 L.Ed.2d 363, 383-85 (1971); Turner v. McKeithen, 490 F.2d 191, 197 n. 24 (Sth Cir. 1973). This Court sees no impediment to council drawing different district boundaries after the next scheduled election and in fact, there may well be under Chapter 4, Section 5 of the Dallas City Charter, an obligation of council to periodically review district boundaries. B-25 white. The Court held that the plaintiffs in that case failed to show that the district lines were a product of a “state contrivance to segregate on the basis of race... .” Wright v. Rockefeller, supra, at 58, 84 S.Ct. at 606. There has been much controverted testimony in the present cause over how best to draw district lines, whether with an eight/three, ten/ one, or eleven/zero plan. Dallas presented testimony from citizens of the black and Mexican-American community saying that the city’s plan was a plan which would allow minority access to the political process in a meaningful manner. Plaintiffs’ witnesses sharply disputed this testimony. The dissenting plaintiff in turn offered evidence tending to show that both of plaintiffs’ plans fragmented the vote of South Dallas, an area which had many unique and common concerns for the black community.?! This testimony led the Court to fully comprehend that “there is no agreement on whether the political interest of a minority group are best maximized by an overwhelming majority in a single district, bare majorities in more than one district or a substantial proportion in a number of districts. ...” Turner v. McKeithen, 490 F.2d 191, 197 n. 24 (Sth Cir. 1973). I find that in Dallas, the constitutional as well as the political opportunity of both minority groups affected are best maximized by the city’s plan. This Court is not constitutionally required to see that any particular number of “safe” seats are provided for either black, brown or white citizens of Dallas. What is required is an apportionment plan that does not dilute, minimize, or cancel out the voting strength of any group. White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755, 93 S.Ct. 2332, 37 L.Ed.2d 314(1973). Any plan must provide for equal access to the politic- al process for all citizens of Dallas. It is the duty of the city’s 2! Plaintiffs’ expert is wnite and was severely criticized by the members of plaintiffs’ class who opposed the ten/one and eleven/zero plans. The lines. See, Robinson v. Commi'nr Court, pr sante Iaahin S05 F.20674¢5:h Cir. 1974), for an example of fragmentation of the black vote. The Court finds that the city’s plan best preserves the integrity of the area known as South Dallas, which has an identifiable set of common interests. B-26 legislative body to come forward with a plan that will provide this access, and I find that the City of Dallas has met its obligations in coming forth with its eight/three plan. This Court believes what the Supreme Court has said time and time again in reapportionment cases regarding the responsibility of state legislative bodies to reapportion themselves. “{[R]Jeapportionment is primarily the duty and responsibility of the state through its legislature or other body rather than of a federal court... .” Chapman v. Meier, supra, (citing Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S.'533, 84 S.Ct. 1362, 12 L.Ed.2d 506 (1964); Maryland Committee v. Tawes, 377 U.S. 656, 84 S.Ct. 1429, 12 L.Ed.2d 595 (1964)]. I cannot reemphasize this point too strongly. The Supreme Court in Chapman v. Meier, supra, remanded that cause with a high hope that the North Dakota legislature would accept its duty to enact a constitutionally acceptable reapportionment plan. Only then, if the legislature failed in that task, would the responsibility fall to the federal courts. Testimony shows that the eight/three plan was not a hasty or ill-considered one. The Dallas City Council has had many redistricting plans before it in the last two or three years. Various citizen groups have had opportunities from time to time to voice their opinions on general types of apportionment plans. The members themselves have offered council several redistricting plans during the past two years. The Court finds that the city’s plan was merely one of many which has been before the City Council for some time, and not one which was hastily conceived merely for the purposes of this litigation. The Court is not unmindful of its role in apportionment cases. Absent particularly pressing circumstances justifying at large voting schemes, I would not hesitate to approve only single- member districts. Connor v. Johnson, supra. This would be especially true if there had been no history of at-large voting in Texas and in Dallas. | find, however, that at-large voting, B-27 especially on the municipal level has been an integral part of Texas local governments and that at large voting schemes have their genesis in reasons other than those racially motivated. In other words, this Court is not forcing at-large voting on the citizens of Dallas with its acceptance of the eight/three plan because Dallas has had at large voting since at least 1907.22 There is a preference for single-member districts in considering for constitutional purposes apportionment plans. However, at-large plans have never been declared constitutionally invalid per se. Connor v. Johnson, 502 U.S. 690, 91 S.Ct. 1760, 29 L.Ed.2d 268 (1971); Whitcomb v. Chavis, 403 U.S. 124, 91 S.Ct. 1858, 29 L. Ed.2d 363 (1971). I, too, decline to hold that a plan which provides for some at large representation is in itself constitu- tionally defective where it was only certain aspects of the city’s exclusively at large plan which rendered it constitutionally impermissible. Lucas v. Colorado General Assembly, 377 U.S. 713, 731, 84 S.Ct. 1459, 12 L.Ed.2d 632, 644 n. 21. Those defects are eliminated by the city’s eight/three plan. In Dallas, under the factual situation presented here, neither all single-member districts or exclusive at-large voting offers the balance which is necessary so that all citizens may have equal opportunity of access to the political process. Both plans offer advantages to each minority group as well as to the white majority. The eight/ three plan allows the benefits of both schemes without the potential for mischief which is present under each exclusive plan. At the close of testimony on February 8, 1975, I made findings which approved the city’s plan as constitutional. Accordingly, | ordered that the eight/ three plan as had been offered by the city, be instituted in time for the April 1975 city council elections, and that the election proceed on the scheduled date. Upon request from the City, the Court modified those provisions of the Dallas City Charter which provide that council candidates have 2 Compare, Chapman v. Meier, supra, where the District Court formulated its for the and that ! own plan North Dakota legislature state had no tradition for B-28 petitions containing signatures from three hundred individuals qualified to vote for the proposed candidate, to allow petitions containing signatures from any three hundred qualified voters residing in the City of Dallas be sufficient for candidacy. This modification for the April 1975 election only. On February 21, 1975, plaintiffs filed their motion for attorney’s fees and costs. This motion was later supported by appropriate affidavit and on February 27, 1975, attorneys for Mexican-American Intervenors filed their motion on this matter. The City of Dallas filed its opposition to these motions on March 14, 1975. The Court has the matter of attorney’s fees under advisement and will make its ruling in a supplement to this opinion. ORDER The Court has previously declared the City of Dallas’ exclusively at-large voting scheme for Dallas City Council consti- tutionally invalid and approved a combination single-member district, at large voting plan. The combination plan was initially proposed by defendants as members of the Dallas City Council, after the Court afforded them an opportunity to do so. On March 25, 1975, findings of fact and conclusions of law were entered by the Court. That opinion and order is adopted and incorporated for all purposes in this order concerning attorneys’ fees and costs. In the March 25, 1975, opinion I kept under advisement the matter of attorneys’ fees and costs. Now, having reviewed the entire record in this matter and considering the briefs of the respective parties I conclude that certain costs should be allowed plaintiffs and that an award of attorneys’ fees is inappropriate and will not be allowed. Plaintiffs and Intervenors moved for an award for attorneys’ fees and costs initially contending that they were entitled to such an award under two theories.” First, because they were vindi- 23 Intervenors, representing the Mexican-American citizens of Dallas participated only in the remedy phase of this cause after the old exclusively at large voting plan had been declared invalid. See, this Court's Order of March 25, 1975. B-29 cating significant rights for the citizens of Dallas in eliminating an unconstitutional voting scheme, they were acting as private attorneys general and thus entitled to an award. And, second, an award is proper because of the defendants’ bad faith in the conduct of this litigation. The private attorney general theory has of course been recently foreclosed. In Alyeska Pipeline Service Company v. Wilderness Society, 421 U.S. 240, 95 S.Ct. 1612, 44 L.Ed.2d 141 (1975), the Supreme Court extensively reviewed the conceptual and historical structure for awards of attorneys’ fees under the private attorney general theory, and concluded that in the absence of a specific statute, it would be improper for the District Court to award attorneys’ fees on this basis. Significantly, the Supreme Court expressly disapproved the authorities sustaining private attorney general awards. These authorities are of course the same ones originally cited by movants in support of their motion.”4 Plaintiffs now strongly advance the alleged bad faith of defendants to support an award of attorneys fees. There is no doubt but that a finding of bad faith or obdurately obstinant condact on behalf of defendants would support an award of attorneys’ fees. Sims v. Amos, 340 F.Supp. 691, 694 (M.D.Ala. 1972) (Three Judge Court) aff'd. sub nom. Amos v. Sims, 409 U.S. 942, 93 S.Ct. 290, 34 L.Ed.2d 215 (1972). In this case however, I find there is simply no factual basis to justify a finding of bad faith. This litigation has been compiex and protracted. Conduct of defendants and their counsel was at all times exemplary and most helpful to the Court as the case developed over its numerous % Brandenburger v. Thompson, 494 F.2d 885, 890-93 (9h Cir. 1974) (concurring opinion) is also of interest. Here, it was observed that the now of cases, which sustained an attorney's fee award predicated ona private attorney general concept, also had strong elements of bad faith B-30 contours.?5 Very few of the matters before the Court were simple or easy to unravel. Many legitimate factual and legal issues were properly raised by defendants for consideration. None can be said to have been frivolous or completely without merit. Much of the factual framework developed at the first part of the hearing on the constitutionality of the old exclusively at large voting plan, assisted the Court in the remedy portion of this litigation. Defendants’ contentions that the old plan met constitutional standards did not survive plaintiffs’ attack. Many of these same contentions, however, supported the Court's later acceptance of the eight-three, mixed plan which was formulated by the City.?6 Failing to prevail does not amount to bad faith. Compare Doe v. Poelker, 515 F.2d 541 (1975), wherein the Court noted that the history of that litigation revealed a “wanton, callous disregard for the constitutional rights [of plaintiffs therein]... .” The voting system of Dallas is established by the City Charter which was adopted by a majority vote of the voters of the City. Changes to the voting system necessarily are changes to the Charter and absent a judicial determination of unconstitution- ality, such changes can only be effected by a Charter Amend- ment adopted by the voters. It is a City Charter provision which was at issue here, not a mere ordinance. A majority vote of the registered voters of the 25 This is not to detract from the conduc: of movants in this suit. It is, however, defendants’ bona fides which is now at issue. 2 Council member defendants urged, as did Mexican-American intervenors in the remedy hearing, that any plan consider the needs of each distinct minority in the City. I feel that this attitude alone, negates any finding of bad faith on the part of defendants and tends to show the merits of the City’s claim of re- sponsiveness. See also, this Court’s Order of March 25, 1975, at pages 16 and 22-23. This Court's finding of dilution was predicated largely upon the realities of housing and voting patterns existing within the City when viewed in an historical context. It is difficult to deny the past, and the defendants, I believe, recognized the past and defended on the basis of present responsiveness. While they did not prevail, | cannot say that the defensive positions were insignificant or advanced for dilatory purposes. As I have herein stated, I do not believe that merely losing on the merits necessarily implies bad faith. B-31 City is required to change the Charter. The members of the City Council, cannot, on their own modify the Charter to alter the voting scheme. Council’s role is to propose changes to the Charter by proposed amendment which in turn is approved or rejected by the voters of Dallas. In this context, after the initiation of this suit, in 1973, Council did propose a Charter Amendment which would have provided, inter alia, for an enlargement of Council and for a mixed, at large, single member district voting plan. This scheme of enlargement and modifi- cation of the voting system was overwhelmingly rejected by both black and white voters. From this factual vantage point, I do not believe that bad faith or obdurately obstinate behavior by defendants has been demonstrated in any way. If defendants had attempted to unilaterally change the voting plan, absent a vote of the people or a ruling from the court with proper jurisdiction that a provision of the Dallas City Charter was constitutionally invalid, they would have been acting unlawfully. Compare, Sims v. Amos, supra, and cases cited therein for examples of bad faith. In Sims, the Court noted that the history of that litigation was “replete with instances of the Legislature’s neglect of and even total disregard for, its constitutional obligation to reapportion. . ..” Sims v. Amos, supra, 340 F.Supp. at 693-94. There as in other reapportionment cases the legislative body had the power and the obligation to reapportion. In the instant case, it is apparent that the Dallas City Council could not have lawfully changed the voting scheme on its own. It lacked the authority todo so. Where there exists a duty and the existing power of an entity to reapportion itself and that entity wilfully and repeatedly refuses to do so, as was evidenced in some legislative redistricting cases, I agree that those circumstances go far to establish bad faith. Where however there is an absence of inherent power to effect such an apportionment, different circumstances are presented. There is absolutely no basis for concluding that defendants have presented their case arbitrarily or capriciously. No racial B-32 motivation or intent has been found. In such circumstances, no bad faith exists. Advancing serious defenses and litigating contested facts is not bad faith. Defendants were in part unsuccessful in litigating complex issues. When the Court announced its finding of unconstitutionality, defendants were given the opportunity to come forward with a constitutional plan. They promptly submitted their mixed, at large, single member district eight/three plan. I have found that this plan meets constitutional standards. Chapman v. Meier, 420 U.S. 1,95 S.Ct. 751, 42 L.Ed. 2d 766 (1975). I believe that this presentation of a constitutional voting plan by City Council to be one more demonstration of defendants’ good faith. Wallace v. House, 515 F.2d 619 (Sth Cir. 1975) (concurring opinion). Plaintiffs, having prevailed in their suit to have the old at large voting scheme declared constitutionally infirm are entitled to their costs as allowed by law. 28 U.S.C. § 1911 et seg. Rule 54(d), Fed.R.Civ.P. The following enumerated costs as shown on plaintiffs’ Bill of Cost filed February 21, 1975, will be allowed. ot PY rrerre ity ori tie To $ 40.00 Fens OF tid DERE. 's.. vcicine ob coc ccveces cepedceoes 10.12 Fees and Disbursements Ser PORES odin cannes cdnececesseesesnsenss 1,106.97 RSet CRT cd Nob does sc onbevcescoanenen 224.90 Fees for Exemplification and Copies of Papers ...........-eeeeeeeeeees 104.50 Costs Incident to Taking of Depositions ...... 6.6... cece eee eee ee eees 1,683.38 VOCAL 6 sek cies a hi ident endeae $3,169.87 The Court feels that the fees requested for plaintiffs’ expert witnesses are not properly taxable. Henkel v. Chicago, St. Paul, M. & O. Ry., 284 U.S. 444, 52 S.Ct. 223, 76 L.Ed. 386 (1932). It is so ORDERED. C-1, APPENDIX C United States Court of Appeals For the Fifth Circuit October Term, 1976 No. 75-2605 D.C. Docket No. CA-3-4571-E ALBERT L. LIPSCOMB, ET AL.., Plaintiffs-Appeliants Appellees, versus THE HONORABLE WES WISE, Mayor of the City of Dallas, ET AL., ETC., Defendants-Appellees, versus ADELFA B. CALLEJO, ET AL., Intervenors-Appeilants. Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Before TUTTLE, GOLDBERG and CLARK, Circuit Judges. JUDGMENT This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and was argued by counsel; ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, It is now here ordered and adjudged by this Court that the order of the District Court appealed from, in this cause be, and the same is hereby, reversed; and that this cause be, and the same is hereby remanded to the said District Court in accordance with the opinion of this Court; It is further ordered that defendants-appellees pay to plaintiffs- appellants appellees and intervenors-appellants, the costs on appeal to be taxed by the Clerk of this Court. May 9, 1977 Issued as Mandate: August 8, 1977 D-! APPENDIX D Albert L. Lipscomb, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants Appellees, v. The Honorable Wes Wise, Mayor of the City of Dallas, et al., etc. Defendants-Appellees, v. Adelfa B. Callejo, et al., Intervenors-Appellants. No. 75-2605. United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. May 9, 1977. As Modified on Denial of Rehearing July 13, 1977. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Before TUTTLE, GOLDBERG and CLARK, Circuit Judges. TUTTLE, Circuit Judge: In Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186, 82 S.Ct. 691, 7 L.Ed.2d 663 (1962), the Supreme Court held that the constitutional validity of legislative apportionment schemes was a justiciable question because “[j Judicial standards under the Equal Protection Clause are well developed and familiar,” 369 U.S. at 226, 82 S.Ct. at-715. Subsequent decisions establishing the principle of individual electoral equality, see Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 84 S.Ct. 1362, 12 L.Ed.2d 506 U.S. 533, 84 S.Ct. 1362, 12 L.Ed.2d 506 (1964), and applying the dilution doctrine, see White v. Regester, 412 U.S. 755, 93 S.Ct. 2342, 37 L.Ed.2d 314 (1973); Whitcomb v. Chavis, 403 U.S. 124, 91 S.Ct. 1858, 29 L.Ed.2d 363 (1971), have confirmed the Court’s sanguine assessment of the judiciary’s capacity to eliminate unfair treatment of voters as individuals and to enhance the prospects for effective political participation D-2 by formerly disenfranchised racial minorities. A necessary concomitant to the formulation of constitutional principles governing the legality of particular types of apportionment plans has been the development of a federal common law of voting rights remedies. This appeal concerns such a remedy. I. DALLAS CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS Three major racial groups make up the population of Dallas, Texas. Sixty five percent of Dallas’ citizens are white; twenty five percent are black; and ten percent are Mexican-American! or chicano. Prior to the 1975 elections, the Dallas City Council was selected in the following manner. The City was divided into eight residential districts; eight “places” on the council ballot were reserved for candidates who resided in each of the respective districts; three additional Council members, including the mayor, ran without regard to the residency requirement; but voting for all eleven seats was on an at-large basis. The result of the residency requirement plus at-large voting for all seats was that eventhough candidates carried black districts by huge majorities they were regularly defeated by opponents who carried the majority white vote city-wide. Candidates for the Dallas City Council have traditionally been nonpartisan. No party primaries have ever been held, although a majority-vote requirement has necessitated run-off elections whenever a candidate for a particular “place” obtains only a plurality of the popular vote. Crucial to success in the Council elections has been the endorsement of the Citizens’ Charter Association (CCA); approximately eighty percent of the candidates supported by this slating group have been victorious. Since 1969, the CCA has endorsed at least one minority group candidate for a City Council position in the biennial elections. At ' We use interchangeable the term Mexican-American and Chicano to comprehend that group, largely of Spanish-surnamed citizens, mostly of Mexican origin. See Hernandez, v. Texas, 347 U.S. 475, 480, 74S.Ct. 667,98 L.Ed. 866. D-3 the time the case was tried by the district court, two blacksand one Mexican-American were serving on the eleven-person City Council. All three had been supported by the CCA. No black or chicano had ever won a Council seat without CCA backing: few whites had, although Mayor Wise did win as an independent. The district court has held that the at-large system of electing ail Dallas City Council members unconstitutionally dilutes the voting strength of the black community of Dallas. Lipscomb vy. Wise, 399 F.Supp. 782 (N.D.Tex. 1975). Mexican-Americans have also been recognized as an identifiable racial group for purposes of the fourteenth amendment, see. e.g., Hernandez v. Texas, 347 U.S. 475, 74 S.Ct. 667, 98 L.Ed.866 (1954). But the district court’s judgment here appealed from did not attempt to determine the constitutionality of the Dallaselections system with respect to chicanos, because all Mexican-American plaintiffs had been dismissed from the lawsuit for failure to comply with discovery orders. 399 F.Supp. at 784. Thus, for purposes of this appeal only, we must assume that no constitutional violation of the rights of Mexican-American citizens occurred under the at- large scheme. Il. PARAMETERS OF THE DISPUTE The City of Dallas does not challenge the district court’s holding that the all at-large system unconstitutionally diminishes the voting strength of Dallas’ black citizens. The problem, instead is the selection of an appropriate remedy. The district court approved the City’s plan for relief, which was enacted as a city ordinance following the court's decision that the prior system was unconstitutional. That plan, known as the “eight/three” plan, provides for the establishment of eight single-member districts corresponding to the eight residential districts under the ail at- large system. The additional Council members are to be elected at- large, with one of the at-large seats being designated as mayor. The plaintiff-appellants contend that the district court’s decision must be reversed because (1) it employs at-large voting to fill three D4 Council seats; and (2) the district lines have allegedly been drawn so as to concentrate black voters in an impermissibly small number of districts, resulting in “cluster dilution.” Representa- tives of the Mexican-American community, whom the district court permitted to intervene at the remedy stage of the lawsuit, also appeal and ask that we remand for findings concerning alleged unconstitutional dilution of the voting strength of Dallas’ chicano citizens and for the development of an election plan that would remedy that alleged violation. We note at the outset two limits on our decision here. First, if the election plan proposed and formally adopted by the City Council is (1) constitutional and (2) otherwise in accordance with the federal common law of voting rights remedies, it should be approved. See Burns v. Richardson, 384 U.S. 73,85, 86S.Ct. 1286, 16 L.Ed.2d 376( 1966); Wallace v. House, 515 F.2d 619,634-35(Sth Cir. 1975) ( Wallace 1), vacated and remanded on other grounds, 425 U.S. 947, 96 S.Ct. 1721, 48 L.Ed.2d 191 (1976), onremand 538 F.2d 1138 (Sth Cir. 1976) ( Wallace 11). Second, it is concededly impossible that an eleven-member plan of any sort could be drawn for the city of Dallas which would create a “safe” single-member district for the Mexican-American community unless some form of cumulative voting, proportional representation, or crazy-quilt district boundaries were employed. Mexican-American citizens are so dispersed throughout Dallas that a safe single-member chicano district could be established only by increasing the size of the Council to twenty or twenty-two members. The largest concentration of Mexican-Americans in the City’s plan for eight single-member districts is twenty percent of one district's population. Under the two alternate plans proposed by the plaintiffs, no more than thirty one percent of any district's population would be chicano. The Mexican-American intervenors themselves offered no proposed plans. This Court, on the facts of this case, has no authority to order the City of Dallas to double the size of its City Council. Therefore, as far as theeffects of reapportionment on the Mexican-American community are D-5 concerned, we are limited to the consideration of plans for an eleven-member Council. Ill. THE PREFERENCE FOR SINGLE- MEMBER DISTRICTS We have previously recognized Dallas’ longstanding public policy in favor of at-large voting. See Zimmer v. Mc Keithen, 485 F.2d 1297, 1307 (Sth Cir. 1973) (en banc). it comes as no surprise, therefore, that the reapportionment plan proposed by the City is a “mixed” plan, containing eight single-member districts and three at-large seats. It cannot, however, be successfully main- tained that the use of at-large voting to select three Council members is in itself constitutionally defective. White v. Regester, 1412 U.S. 755, 765, 93 S.Ct. 2342, 37 L.Ed.2d 314 (1973) (multi- member districts are not per se unconstitutional); Chapman v. Meier, 420 U.S. 1, 15, 95 S.Ct. 751, 760, 42 L.Ed.2d 766 (1975) (Court “has upheld numerous state-initiated apportionment schemes using multi-member districts”). Appellants contend that the district court’s approval of the City’s proposed reapportionment plan must be reversed as an abuse of discretion. This contention is founded on the Supreme Court's recent decision in East Carroll Parish School Board v. Marshall, 424 U.S. 636, 96 S.Ct. 1083, 47 L.Ed.2d 296 (1976) (per curiam). In East Carroll, the district court had approved a municipal plan calling for the at-large election of all members of a parish police jury and school board. This Court reversed on constitutional grounds, holding that the all at-large system unconstitutionally diluted the voting power of black citizens. Zimmer v. Mc Keithen, 485 F.2d 1297 (Sth Cir. 1973) (en banc). The Supreme Court, however, expressly avoided disposition of the case on constitutional grounds. 424 U.S. at 639, 96 S.Ct. D+ 1083. Rather, the Court affirmed our decision on the basis of the rule that when United States district courts are put to the task of fashioning reapportionment plans to supplant concededly invalid state legislation, single-member districts are to be preferred absent unusual circumstances . . . . As the en banc opinion of the Court of Appeals amply demonstrates, no special circumstances here dictate the use of multimember districts. Thus we hold that in shaping remedial relief the District Court abused its discretion in not initially ordering a single-member reapportionment plan. 424 U.S. at 639-40, 96 S.Ct. at 1085; accord, Paige v. Gray, 538 F.2d 1108, 1111 (Sth Cir. 1976); Wallace v. House, 538 F.2d 1138, 1142 (Sth Cir. 1976).” IV. THE MEXICAN—AMERICAN AS CREATING A “SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE” Here, the district court approved the City’s eight/ three plan on the following basis: .L conclude that Mexican-American citizens do not suffer from present dilution of their voting strength, and in fact, benefit to a significant extent from at-large voting .. . . The Court finds that an exclusive single-member district plan would do nothing to increase the opportunity for Mexican-American participation in the political life of Dallas and might tend to decrease it. . . . [I]t is clear that at-large voting offers features which allow greater participation in the political processes within Dallas for Mexican-American voters [which] would be unavailable in an exclusive single-member district voting plan. .. . Mexican-American citizens will, under the eight/ three plan, have a heretofore unavailable flexibility and greater opportunity to participace in the political life of Dallas.” 399 F.Supp. at 793-94. Although a group of Mexican-Americans were originally plaintiffs in the district court, they were dismissed for failure to comply with discovery. 399 F.Supp. at 784. A class consisting of a D-7 Mexican-American voters were permitted to intervene at the remedy stage of the lawsuit, but the district court’s finding of unconstitutionality concerned the voting strength of black citizens only. The intervenors presented no plans for reapportionment at the remedy stage. Their position can be fairly characterized as being in favor of any reapportionment plan that would create a “safe” Mexican-American seat on the Dallas City Council. Of course, no racial group has a constitutional right to be represented in a legislative assembly by a member of the group. On the other hand, representation by a person of one’s own race is the most visible sign that a racial group has effective access to the political process and that the assembly will hear those concerns that are peculiar to the group. It is generally concluded that no single-member district will be dominated by chicanos, who comprise only eight to ten percent of Dallas’ population and whose residences are not geograph- ically concentrated. The question on appeal is therefore whether the particular situation of Mexican-American citizens in Dallas constitutes a “special circumstance” within the contemplation of East Carroll and our opinion on remand in Wallace v. House. We think it does not. The major difficulty with the district court’s decision that a mixed plan would improve Mexican-American access to the political process is that there has never been a determination that their access has been unconstitutionally impaired. At the liability stage of the trial, there was no evidence presented concerning the voting rights of the dismissed chicano plaintiffs. At the remedy stage, the Mexican-American intervenors suggested that the voting power of chicanos had been diluted in the same fashion as the voting power of the black community. The City did not oppose these assertions. (Indeed, they furthered the City’s position.) The trial court was ambivalent: “The Court finds that Mexican-American citizens of Dallas have suffered some restrictions of access to the political processes within the city but that this restriction does not amount to dilution. 399 F.Supp. at 793. D-8 I conclude that Mexican-American citizens do not suffer from present dilution of their voting strength, and in fact, benefit to a significant extent from at-large voting. 399 F.Supp. at 793. Mexican-Americans have entered to some extent into the political life of Dallas through the present at-large system. At- large voting may operate in part as a restriction of access for Mexican-Americans as it has been for blacks. At the same time however, it is clear that at-large voting offers features which allow greater participation in the political processes within Dallas for Mexican-American voters [which] would be unavailable in an exclusive single-r ember district voting plan.” 399 F.Supp. at 794. Thus, for purposes of this appeal, we must assume that the former all at-large system was not unconstitutional withrespect to Dallas’ chicano community. The problem that the chicano officer seeker faces in Dallas is that only eight to ten percent of Dallas’ citizens are Mexican-Americans. In any election contest dominated by racial or ethnic block voting, a Mexican- American will always come in third to the white candidate and the black candidate. Chicano politics in Dallas must be the politics of coalition. Furthermore, we find most enlightening on this matter of the relative advantages of eight/three and eleven/zero systems to Mexican-Americans a pleading filed on their behalf pending this appeal. The trial court expressly retained jurisdiction of the case for possible future modifications. Shortly after the trial court judgment an election was held at which a member of the class was defeated for one of the at-large posts. Thereafter. counsel for the Mexican-American intervenors filed a motion with the trial court for a further hearing as to the correctness of the trial court's order approving the eight/three city council. In support of this motion, counsel made the following statements: “Intervenors would show the Court that under the approved 8 D-9 3 plan Mexican-Americans are restricted in their access from entering into the political life of Dallas. It is clear that At Large voting does not offer features which allow greater participation in the political process within Dallas for Mexican-American voters, but in fact dilutes the vote of the Mexican-American citizen and makes it impossible for a Mexican-American to participate meaningfully in the election process. Intervenors would show the Court that the results of the election of April 1, 1975, and other additiona] evidence will establish that Mexican-Americans are being denied representa- tion and do suffer from the present dilution of their voting strength and do not benefit to a significant extent from At Large voting.” Thus, it will be seen that by pleadings filed by them, a class for whose benefit the trial court sought to act, has not only disclaimed the “benefit” but also denied the basis of which it rests. We conclude that (1) as far as this record is concerned, chicano “access” to the political processes of Dallas need not be improved since it is ex hypothesi the same “access” as that of white persons; and (2) the district court’s opinion was based on a theory of electoral politics that applies as well if not better to single-member districts than to at-large elections. Thus, the situation of the Mexican-American voters does not constitute a special circumstance within the contemplation of the cases which require that absent such special circumstances, the city’s legislative body be elected from single members districts. V. ELECTION OF MAYOR No showing has been made as to the city’s preference for the election of a mayor? if the City is to operate with an eleven 2 The mayor's office in Dallas is what is known as a “weak mayorality.” That no legislative powers qua mayor. He has no veto powers. City government is administered by a City Manager. D-10 member council chosen by districts. Under the present plan, he is required to be the city-wide candidate for “position” No. 11 of one of the at-large posts. The City may provide for the election of the mayor by general city-wide election or by election by City Council. VI. CONCLUSION Therefore, the order appealed from is reversed and remanded with instructions for the district court to require the City to reapportion itself into an appropriate number of single-member districts for the purpose of holding City Council elections. Should the City fail to propose an acceptable plan, the court shall formulate its own plan. The trial court shall also consider the appellant’s claim here that he is entitled to attorney's fees for all services through the completion of this appeal. See 42 U.S.C.A. § 1988 (Supp. 1977). REVERSED AND REMANDED. E-] APPENDIX E LIPSCOMB V. WISE Albert L. Lipscomb, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants Appellees, v. The Honorable Wes Wise, Mayor of the City of Dallas, et al., etc. Defendants-A ppellees, v. Adelfa B. Callejo, et al., Intervenors-Appellants. No. 75-2605. United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. July 13, 1977. Appeals from the United States District Court for the North- ern District of Texas, 399 F.Supp. 782, Eldon B. Mahon, Judge. ON PETITIONS FOR REHEARING Before TUTTLE, GOLDBERG and CLARK, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: IT IS ORDERED that the petitions for rehearing filed on behalf of plaintiffs-appellants appellees and _ intervenors- appellants in the above entitled and numbered cause be and the same are hereby DENIED. The concluding paragraph of the opinion, 551 F.2d 1043, is modified to read as follows: VI. CONCLUSION Therefore, the order appealed from is reversed and remanded with instructions for the district court to require the City to reapportion itself into an appropriate number of single-member E-2 disticts for the purpose of holding City Council elections. Should the City fail to propose an acceptable plan, the court shall formulate its own plan. The trial court shall also consider the appellant’s claim here that he is entitled to attorney’s fees for all services through the completion of this appeal. See 42 U.S.C.A. § 1988 (Supp. 1977). F-1 APPENDIX F IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 75-2605 Albert L. Lipscomb, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants Appellees, versus The Honorable Wes Wise, Mayor of the City of Dallas, et al., etc. Defendants-Appellees, versus Adelfa B. Callejo, et al., Intervenors-Appellants. Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. ORDER: (X) The motion of APPELLEES for stay of the issuance of the mandate pending petition for writ of certiorari is DENIED. See Fifth Circuit Local Rule 15, as amended January 11, 1972. eel United States Circuit Judge G-! APPENDIX G SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES No. A-149 WES WISE, ET AL.., Applicants, v. ALBERT L. LIPSCOMB, ET AL. ORDER UPON CONSIDERATION of the application of counsel for the applicants, the responses filed thereto, and the reply of the applicants, IT IS ORDERED that the mandate of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in case No. 75-2605, issued August 8, 1977 be recalled, and the judgment of that court stayed, pursuant to my in chambers opinion released today, pending the timely filing and disposition by this Court of a petition for writ of certiorari. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this order is to terminate automatically. In the event the petition for writ of cer [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385004_2658%3A01. Public record. Not legal advice.