LUCIOUS ABRAMS, JR., G. L. AVERY, WILLIAM GARY CHAMBERS, SR., AND KAREN WATSON, APPELLANTS 95-1425 v. DAVIDA JOHNSON ET AL. UNITED STATES, APPELLANT 95-1460 v. DAVIDA JOHNSON ET AL.
Nos. 95-1425, 95-1460
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
December 9, 1996, Argued
June 19, 1997 * , Decided
* Together with No. 95-1460, United States v. Johnson et al., also on appeal from the same court.
The electoral district lines for Georgia's congressional delegation are here a second time, appeal now being taken from the District Court's rulings and determinations on remand after Miller v. Johnson, 515 U. S. ___, in which this Court affirmed the finding that the State's Eleventh District was unconstitutional because race was a predominant factor in its drawing, id., at ___. The plan challenged contained three majority black districts, and after remand the complaint was amended to challenge another of these, the then Second District, which the trial court found was also improperly drawn under Miller. The court deferred to Georgia 's Legislature to draw a new plan, but the legislature could not reach agreement. The court then drew its own plan, containing but one majority black district, the Fifth; this Court declined to stay the order; and the 1996 general elections were held under it. The appellants, various voters and the United States , now seek to set the trial court's plan aside, claiming that it does not adequately take into account the interests of Georgia 's black population.
Held: The District Court's redistricting plan is not unconstitutional. Pp. 3-26.