Gomillion v. Lightfoot

Gomillion v. Lightfoot

Gomillion v. Lightfoot, 364 U.S. 339 (1960), was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that addressed racial gerrymandering and the violation of the Fifteenth Amendment. The case arose from the redrawing of the electoral district boundaries of Tuskegee, Alabama, which effectively disenfranchised African American voters.

Background

In the late 1950s, the city of Tuskegee, Alabama, was home to a significant African American population. The city was known for the Tuskegee Institute, a historically black university. In 1957, the Alabama legislature enacted Local Law 140, which redefined the boundaries of Tuskegee from a square shape to a 28-sided figure. This redistricting removed all but a few African American voters from the city limits, while leaving white voters largely unaffected.

The redistricting was challenged by Charles Gomillion and other African American residents of Tuskegee, who argued that the new boundaries were drawn with the intent to disenfranchise black voters, violating their rights under the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits denying a citizen the right to vote based on race.

Legal Proceedings

The case was initially dismissed by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, which held that the state had the authority to draw electoral boundaries. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal. The plaintiffs then appealed to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Decision

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Felix Frankfurter, reversed the lower courts' decisions. The Court held that the redistricting was unconstitutional as it violated the Fifteenth Amendment. Justice Frankfurter stated that "the essential inevitable effect of this redefinition of Tuskegee's boundaries is to deprive the Negro petitioners discriminatorily of the benefits of residence in Tuskegee and consequently of their voting rights in municipal elections."

The Court's decision in Gomillion v. Lightfoot was significant because it established that state actions that result in racial discrimination in voting are subject to judicial scrutiny, even if they do not explicitly mention race. This case set a precedent for future cases involving racial gerrymandering and voting rights.

Impact and Legacy

Gomillion v. Lightfoot was a pivotal case in the civil rights movement, reinforcing the federal government's role in protecting voting rights against racial discrimination. It paved the way for subsequent legislation, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting.

The case also highlighted the use of the Fifteenth Amendment as a tool to challenge racially discriminatory practices in voting, influencing future litigation and civil rights advocacy.

See Also

• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Baker v. Carr
• Reynolds v. Sims
• Civil Rights Movement

References

• "Gomillion v. Lightfoot," 364 U.S. 339 (1960).
• "The Voting Rights Act of 1965," National Archives and Records Administration.