johnson degrandy argued october decided june page together de grandy et al johnson speaker florida house representatives et florida also appeal consolidated cases group hispanic voters group black voters federal government claim florida reapportionment plan state senate house districts unlawfully dilutes voting strength hispanics blacks dade county area violation voting rights act state review required state constitution declared plan valid federal state law acknowledging time constraints precluded full review authorizing interested party bring challenge plaintiffs chose however pursue claims federal district reviewed totality circumstances required thornburg gingles concluded three gingles preconditions establishing dilution satisfied justifying finding vote dilution specifically found voting proceeded largely along racial lines producing system tripartite politics hispanics dade county area constitute majority house senate districts sjr created house senate districts hispanic majorities additional senate district drawn page ii florida minorities suffered historically official discrimination social economic political effects continued feel imposed remedial plan house districts concluding remedies blacks hispanics senatorial districts mutually exclusive left sjr senate districts force held district properly refused give preclusive effect state decision validating sjr pp violation sjr house districts spite continuing discrimination racial bloc voting minority voters form effective voting majorities number house districts roughly proportional respective shares population proportionality dispositive relevant fact totality circumstances analyzed determining whether minority voters less opportunity members electorate participate political process elect representatives choice pp assumes without deciding first gingles factor satisfied cases pp proof gingles factors necessary make claim set district lines violates necessarily sufficient rather must assess probative significance gingles factors considering circumstances arguable bearing issue equal political opportunity misjudged relative importance gingles factors historical discrimination equating dilution found failure maximize number districts dilution inferred mere failure guarantee minority voters maximum political influence pp ruling state proposes matter law dilution occurs whenever proportionality exists likewise provide decisional rule derogation statutory text proportionality indication minority voters equal political electoral opportunity spite racial polarization guarantee serve determining whether set districts unlawfully dilutes minority voting strength pp need reach argument proportionality assessed statewide basis cases challenging districts electing body statewide page iii jurisdiction argument recast litigation comes dilution claims litigated statewide basis smaller geographical scale pp district decision leave undisturbed state plan senate districts correct however reaching decision misapprehended legal test vote dilution case house districts totality circumstances appears support finding dilution senate districts pp souter delivered opinion rehnquist blackmun stevens ginsburg joined parts iv kennedy joined filed concurring opinion kennedy filed opinion concurring part concurring judgment thomas filed dissenting opinion scalia joined johnson degrandy justice souter delivered opinion consolidated cases meaning vote dilution facts required show voting rights act applied challenges legislative districts see stat amended hold violation found spite continuing discrimination racial bloc voting minority voters form effective voting majorities number johnson degrandy districts roughly proportional minority voters respective shares population proportionality dispositive challenge districting relevant fact totality circumstances analyzed determining whether members minority group less opportunity members electorate participate political process elect representatives choice ibid first day florida legislative session group hispanic voters including miguel de grandy de grandy plaintiffs complained district speaker florida house representatives president senate governor state officials state complainants alleged districts florida voters chosen state senators representatives since malapportioned failing reflect changes state population ensuing decade state conference naacp branches individual black voters naacp plaintiffs filed similar suit district consolidated de grandy case several months first complaint filed april state legislature adopted senate joint resolution sjr providing reapportionment plan currently issue plan called dividing florida senate house districts based population data johnson degrandy census constitution florida required state attorney general petitioned florida declaratory judgment legislature apportionment plan valid federal state law see fla art iii declared acknowledging state constitutional time constraints precluded full review conformity voting rights act recognizing right interested party bring challenge plan florida see constitutionality senate joint resolution special apportionment session de grandy naacp plaintiffs responded sjr amending federal complaints charge new reapportionment plan violating claimed sjr unlawfully fragments cohesive minority communities otherwise impermissibly submerges right vote participate electoral process pointed areas around state black hispanic populations formed voting majority politically cohesive johnson degrandy reasonably compact district one sjr fragmented group among several districts packed de grandy wetherell nd department justice filed similar complaint naming state florida several elected officials defendants claiming sjr diluted voting strength blacks hispanics two parts state violation government alleged sjr diluted votes hispanic population area largely covered dade county including miami black population area covering much escambia county including pensacola app district consolidated action two held trial followed immediately hearing remedy end hearing july district ruled bench held plan provisions state house districts violation sjr nine hispanic districts may drawn without creating regressive effect upon black voters imposed remedial plan offered de grandy plaintiffs calling house districts app juris statement senate found fourth district drawn addition three provided sjr expense black voters area two minds implication finding observing meant legislature plan senate violation without remedy saying johnson degrandy plan violate event ordered elections held using sjr senatorial districts later expanded opinion reviewed totality circumstances required thornburg gingles explaining dade county tripartite politics ethnic factors predominate found political cohesion within hispanic black populations none two tendency whites vote bloc bar minority groups electing chosen candidates except district given minority makes voting majority found nearly johnson degrandy one million hispanics dade county area combined senate house districts one relatively compact functional majority hispanic voters whereas sjr created fewer districts one senate district black voting majority drawn noting florida minorities bore social economic political effects past discrimination concluded sjr impermissibly diluted voting strength hispanics house districts hispanics blacks senate districts findings vote dilution senatorial districts practical effect however held remedies blacks hispanics mutually exclusive consequently deferred state legislature work fairest accommodation ethnic communities south florida stayed judgment district noted probable jurisdiction ii going issue heart cases need consider district refusal give preclusive effect decision state validating sjr state argues claims de grandy plaintiffs dismissed res judicata full fair opportunity litigate vote dilution state see constitutionality senate joint resolution special apportionment session premise however false exaggerating review afforded de grandy plaintiffs state ignoring opinion judgment limited scope given state constitutional mandate review johnson degrandy apportionment resolutions within days see fla art iii florida accepted briefs evidentiary submissions held trial words impossible conduct complete factual analysis contemplated voting rights act within time constraints article iii holding accordingly without prejudice right protestor question validity plan filing petition alleging plan violates voting rights act state balks recognizing express reservation blaming de grandy plaintiffs returning state claims plaintiffs free litigate jurisdiction choice forgo optional state review hardly converted state constitutional judgment decision following full fair opportunity litigate allen mccurry res judicata require matter federal gives greater preclusive effect state judgment state marrese american academy orthopaedic surgeons florida made plain preliminary look vote dilution claims preclusive effect florida law state course argue res judicata bars claims party florida action contends instead federal government challenge deserved dismissal abstention doctrine party losing state barred seeking substance appellate review state judgment district based losing party claim state judgment violates loser federal johnson degrandy rights see district columbia appeals feldman rooker fidelity trust invocation inapt unlike rooker feldman party state position ask review state judgment directly attacked proceeding cf feldman supra suing district columbia appeals rooker supra seeking state judgment declared null void merely seeks litigate case first time government claims like private plaintiffs properly federal courts iii merits vote dilution claims covering house districts crux state argument power hispanics sjr elect candidates choice number districts mirrors share dade county area population house districts power according state bars finding plan dilutes hispanic voting strength district said missed conclusion mistaking precedents require plan maximize number districts state argument takes us back ground covered last term two cases challenging districts see voinovich quilter growe emison growe held claim vote dilution district requires proof meeting three threshold conditions dilution challenge multimember district minority group sufficiently large geographically compact constitute majority johnson degrandy district politically cohesive white majority vot sufficiently bloc enable usually defeat minority preferred candidate slip quoting thornburg gingles course reflected voinovich amplify later opinion gingles factors applied mechanically without regard nature claim slip voinovich explained manipulation district lines dilute voting strength politically cohesive minority group members whether fragmenting minority voters among several districts majority routinely packing one small number districts minimize influence districts next door see slip section prohibits either sort result interact ing social historical conditions impairs ability protected class elect candidate choice equal basis voters ibid quoting gingles supra plaintiffs growe voinovich failed show vote dilution former prove political cohesiveness minority group growe supra slip latter showed significant white bloc voting voinovich supra slip contrary district found state challenge presence gingles preconditions dispute litigation johnson degrandy centers two quite different questions whether hispanics sufficiently numerous geographically compact majority additional districts required first gingles factor whether even three gingles conditions satisfied circumstances totality support finding vote dilution hispanics expected elect chosen representatives substantial proportion percentage area population applied claim districts dilute minority votes first gingles condition requires possibility creating existing number reasonably compact districts sufficiently large minority population elect candidates choice district found condition satisfied contrasting sjr de grandy plan dade county area provided reasonably compact districts population least percent hispanic percentage figures disputed parties disagree sufficiency allow hispanics elect representatives choice districts district agreed plaintiffs compensate number hispanics vote commonly recent immigrants become citizens state protests fully half hispanic residents region citizens result several districts de grandy plan lack enough hispanic voters elect candidates choice without votes ethnic groups assumptions state argues condition necessary justify tinkering state plan disappears johnson degrandy leave dispute without winner parties ostensibly factual disagreement raises issue law characteristic minority populations age citizenship touchstone proving dilution claim devising sound remedy cases may resolved however without reaching issue related question whether first gingles condition satisfied proof influence district may created proof plaintiffs devise additional district members minority group minority voters potentially influential one past assume without deciding even hispanics absolute majority relevant population additional districts first gingles condition satisfied cases see voinovich supra slip see also growe supra slip declining reach issue gingles however part company district assessing totality circumstances district found three gingles preconditions satisfied hispanics suffered historically official discrimination social economic political effects generally continued feel without apparent assumption done create additional hispanic districts done district found violation assumption erroneous required review gingles show thornburg gingles supra prompted johnson degrandy first reading voting rights act amendment section amended act prohibits standard practice procedure results denial abridgement right citizen vote account race color membership language minority group section provides denial abridgment occurs based totality circumstances shown political processes leading nomination election state political subdivision equally open participation members class citizens protected subsection members less opportunity members electorate participate political process elect representatives choice extent members protected class elected office state political subdivision one circumstance may considered provided nothing section establishes right members protected class elected numbers equal proportion population johnson degrandy hile many may relevant claim vote dilution submergence multimember districts unless conjunction following circumstances use multimember districts generally impede ability minority voters elect representatives choice stated succinctly bloc voting majority must usually able defeat candidates supported politically cohesive geographically insular minority group omitted emphasis original gingles clearly identified three johnson degrandy generally necessary prove claim clearly declined hold sufficient combination either sense examination relevant circumstances complete three factors found exist sense three combination necessarily circumstances demonstrated dilution true bloc voting matter degree variable legal significance depending facts also ultimate conclusions equality inequality opportunity intended congress judgments resting comprehensive limited canvassing relevant facts lack electoral success evidence vote dilution courts must also examine evidence totality circumstances including extent opportunities minority voters enjoy participate political processes concurring judgment sure plaintiffs may easy cases although lack equal electoral opportunity may readily imagined unsurprising demonstrated circumstances include three essential gingles factors conclusion must still addressed explicitly without isolating arguably relevant facts act judgment johnson degrandy three gingles factors may isolated sufficient standing alone prove dilution every multimember district challenge fortiori must challenge goes series districts dilution may difficult grasp plaintiffs challenging districts may claim total submergence partial submergence chance electoral success place none chance success place question thus comes reasonableness drawing series district lines one combination places rather another judgments inequality may become closer calls facts beyond ambit three gingles factors loom correspondingly larger factfinders rest uncritically assumptions force gingles factors pointing dilution cases us course fall complex side divide requiring determine whether provision somewhat fewer districts number sought plaintiffs dilution minority votes district accordingly required assess probative significance gingles factors critically considering circumstances arguable bearing issue equal political opportunity johnson degrandy think finding dilution district misjudged relative importance gingles factors historical discrimination measured evidence tending show spite facts sjr provide minority voters equal measure political electoral opportunity district sure commit error treating three gingles conditions exhausting enquiry required consistently gingles received evidence racial relations outside immediate confines voting behavior found history discrimination hispanic voters continuing society generally present day district critical enough asking whether history persistent discrimination reflected larger society behavior portended dilutive effect newly proposed districting scheme whose pertinent features districts substantial proportion minority share population failed ask whether totality facts including pointing proportionality showed new johnson degrandy scheme deny minority voters equal political opportunity treating equal political opportunity focus enquiry see district lines apparently providing political effectiveness proportion numbers deny equal political opportunity record establishes hispanics constitute percent population dade county sjr make house districts located primarily within county likewise one considers house districts located least part within dade county record indicates hispanics effective voting majority percent nine constitute percent population area app juris statement words sjr hispanics dade county area enjoy substantial proportionality evidence think state scheme thwart historical tendency exclude hispanics encourage perpetuate thus spite history legacy including racial cleavages characterize dade county politics today see grounds holding case sjr district lines diluted votes cast hispanic voters de grandy plaintiffs urge us put weight district findings packing fragmentation allegedly accomplished way state drew certain specific lines line district separates heavily hispanic neighborhoods district rest heavily hispanic kendall lakes area kendall area line divides neighbors making housing development kendall lakes district packs hispanic voters districts fragmen internal quotation marks omitted johnson degrandy agree state split lumped minority neighborhoods grouped single district spread among several state employed standards minority neighborhoods used elsewhere jurisdiction inconsistent treatment might significant evidence violation even face proportionality district however made finding indeed propositions recites point even phrased factual findings merely recitations testimony offered plaintiffs expert witness district may well credited testimony apparently wary adopting witness conclusions findings even one imputed greater significance accounts testimony boil findings several sjr district lines separate portions hispanic neighborhoods another district line draws several hispanic neighborhoods single district however say lines drawn elsewhere nothing dividing district lines combining within virtually inevitable befalls population group substantial size attaching labels packing fragmenting phenomena without make result vote dilution minority group enjoys substantial proportionality may significance facts obscured rule thumb apparently adopted district anything short maximum number districts consistent gingles conditions violate least societal discrimination minority occurred continued occur reading first johnson degrandy gingles condition effect define dilution failure maximize face bloc voting plus incidents societal bias expected occurs causes dangers courted assume hypothetical jurisdiction voters divided districts members minority group make percent voting population voting totally polarized along racial lines right geographic dispersion satisfy compactness requirement careful manipulation district lines minority voters might placed control many districts district drawn least members minority group whether remaining minority voters added groupings safety scattered three districts minority voters able elect candidates choice seven districts point hypothetical course given district likely open extreme manipulation bare majorities likely vote full force strictly along racial lines reading define dilution failure maximize tends obscure object statute run counter textually stated purpose one may suspect vote dilution political famine one entitled suspect much less infer dilution mere failure guarantee political feast however prejudiced society might absurd suggest failure districting scheme provide minority group johnson degrandy effective political power percent numerical strength indicates denial equal participation political process failure maximize measure obvious reasons state agrees failure leverage minority political strength maximum possible point power definitive dilution societies seeks impart measure determinacy applying definitive rule matter law dilution occurs whenever percentage districts minority voters form effective majority mirrors minority voters percentage relevant population proportionality defined see supra thus safe harbor districting scheme safety derogation statutory text considered purpose however johnson degrandy ideal voting rights act attempts foster inflexible rule run counter textual command presence absence violation assessed based totality circumstances need totality review springs demonstrated ingenuity state local governments hobbling minority voting power mccain lybrand point recognized congress amended statute since adoption voting rights act jurisdictions substantially moved direct impediments right vote sophisticated devices dilute minority voting strength senate report discussing modifying congress thus endorsed view white regester whether political processes equally open depends upon searching practical evaluation past present reality senate report quoting substantial number voting jurisdictions past reality included reprehensible practices ballot box stuffing outright violence discretionary registration property requirements poll tax white primary practices censurable object use discriminatory elections runoff requirements devices gerrymandering impeachment officeholders annexation deannexation territory creation elimination elective offices johnson degrandy expedients occur even jurisdiction numerically demonstrable proportionality harbor safe thus safe voters short good reason remain chary entertaining simplification sort state urges upon us cf gingles ersistent proportional representation may accurately reflect minority group ability elect preferred representatives even state safe harbor open cases alleged dilution manipulation district lines however rest unexplored premise highly suspect validity given voting jurisdiction portion jurisdiction consideration rights minority voters may traded rights members minority class state view blatant racial gerrymandering half county single member districts irrelevant offset political gerrymandering half long proportionality bottom line see baird consolidated city indianapolis balanced bottom line foreclose proof discrimination along way city richmond territorial annexation aimed diluting black votes forbidden regardless actual effect finally reject safe harbor rule tendency state certainly condemn johnson degrandy tendency promote perpetuate efforts devise districts even circumstances may necessary achieve equal political electoral opportunity simplest form state rule shield challenge districting scheme number districts reflected minority share relevant population conclusiveness rule might irresistible inducement create districts bears recalling however virtues districts remedial devices rely quintessentially calculus aptly described politics second best see grofman handley niemi minority representation quest voting equality lesson gingles society racial ethnic cleavages sometimes necessitate districts ensure equal political electoral opportunity obscure fact communities minority citizens able form coalitions voters racial ethnic groups need majority within single district order elect candidates choice candidates may represent perfection every minority voter minority voters immune obligation pull haul trade find common political ground virtue slighted applying statute meant hasten waning racism american politics enough say proportionality sense used obviously indication minority voters equal opportunity spite racial polarization participate political process elect representatives choice degree probative value assigned johnson degrandy proportionality may vary facts single statistic provides courts determine whether set districts unlawfully dilutes minority voting strength concedes relevance proportionality claim confine proportionality affirmative defense one made statewide basis cases challenge districts electing body statewide jurisdiction case us treat claim evidence proportionality supports state plan waived state made argument district proportion districts statewide hispanics constitute effective voting majority mirrors proportion statewide hispanic population johnson degrandy argument two flaws first textual reason segregate circumstances statutory totality rendered insignificant unless defendant pleads way affirmative defense second importantly argument recast cases come us order bar consideration proportionality except statewide scope whereas dilution claims litigated smaller geographical scale indeed plaintiffs including passed opportunity frame dilution claim statewide terms points language complaint alleging redistricting plans dilute votes hispanic citizens black citizens state florida app complaint identifies several areas state violations said occur speaks terms hispanics dade county area blacks area escambia county nowhere allegations indicate claims dilution state florida considered terms areas specifically mentioned complaint alleges facts contours demographics voting patterns districts outside dade county escambia county areas neither evidence trial opinion district addressed white bloc voting political cohesion minorities statewide de grandy plaintiffs even voluntarily dismissed claims hispanic vote dilution outside dade county area see thus occasion decide frame reference used parties apparently agreed district johnson degrandy appropriate geographical scope analyzing alleged violation devising remedy sum district finding dilution address statutory standard unequal political electoral opportunity reflected instead misconstruction equated dilution failure maximize number reasonably compact districts ultimate finding dilution districting florida house based misreading governing law hold clearly erroneous see gingles iv found insufficient evidence vote dilution drawing house districts dade county area look comparable districts state senate case house districts understand district misapprehended legal test vote dilution found violation location senate district lines modify state plan however hold ultimate result correct instance sjr creates senate districts five wholly within dade county five three hispanic least percent one clear majority black voters two senate districts crossing county lines include substantial numbers dade county voters one black voters although close majority able elect representatives choice aid votes within dade county area minority groups enjoy rough proportionality population area percent johnson degrandy hispanic percent black record exh hispanics predominate percent districts three seven blacks percent one seven numbers indicate something short perfect proportionality percent percent opposite true five districts located wholly within dade county district concentrated facts whether additional districts drawn either hispanics blacks constitute effective majority found indeed fourth senatorial district hispanic drawn additional district created black majority case employing reasonably compact districts previously established minority group politically cohesive labored legacy official discrimination whites voted bloc district believed faced two independent viable section claims however think possible create another hispanic district another black district map concluded remedy either violation practical deferring state plan compromise policy imposed sjr senatorial districts affirm district decision leave state plan florida state senate districts undisturbed johnson degrandy case house districts totality circumstances appears support finding vote dilution minority groups constitute effective voting majorities number state senate districts substantially proportional share population plaintiffs produced evidence otherwise indicating sjr voters either minority group less opportunity members electorate participate political process elect representatives choice violation voting rights act shown occasion review district decisions going remedy judgment district accordingly affirmed part reversed part ordered footnotes additional step directly relevant appeal state submitted sjr department justice preclearance pursuant voting rights act five florida counties dade county subject preclearance de grandy wetherell nd attorney general refused preclear plan senate districts hillsborough county area state legislature refused revise plan florida ordered adjustments necessary obtain preclearance version sjr adjusted issue litigation complaint also alleged violation art fourteenth fifteenth amendments constitution claims later dismissed voluntarily voting rights act constitutional claims escambia county area settled parties issue appeal judgment filed july app juris statement said sjr state senatorial districts violate section subsequent opinion explaining judgment said senatorial districts indeed violate earlier language read holding florida senate plan violate section different remedy must imposed emphasis added conflict two formulations consequence reviews judgments statements opinions california rooney per curiam quoting black cutter laboratories de grandy plaintiffs appealed failure district provide relief alleged violations sjr senatorial districts state entitled urge grounds lend support judgment dayton bd ed brinkman including argument makes district correct impose remedy different sjr state reapportionment plan violate recognizes terms black hispanic white neither mutually exclusive collectively exhaustive follow practice district using rough indicators south florida three largest racial linguistic minority groups see also discussing vote dilution gerrymandering district lines earlier precedents recognizing racial gerrymanders played central role discrimination minority groups see gomillion lightfoot perkins matthews connor finch congress amended statute reach cases discriminatory intent identified adding new language designed codify white regester hereinafter senate report summarized gingles senate report specifies factors typically may relevant johnson degrandy claim history discrimination state political subdivision extent voting elections state political subdivision racially polarized extent state political subdivision used voting practices procedures tend enhance opportunity discrimination minority group unusually large election districts majority vote requirements prohibitions bullet voting exclusion members minority group candidate slating processes extent minority group members bear effects past discrimination areas education employment health hinder ability participate effectively political process use overt subtle racial appeals political campaigns extent members minority group elected public office jurisdiction senate report report notes also evidence demonstrating elected officials unresponsive particularized needs members minority group policy underlying state political subdivision use contested practice structure tenuous may probative value challenges multimember districts likely easier plaintiffs cases worth remembering even multimember district challenges proof gingles factors always portended liability baird consolidated city indianapolis seventh circuit confronted scheme electing council members voters chose representatives districts large district representing entire area black plaintiffs brought vote dilution claim challenging lines districts existence district council redrawn districts rectify dilution district held johnson degrandy seventh circuit affirmed district dilute black voting strength proof three gingles factors enough considerations show minority undiminished right participate political process considerations baird included fact new districts drawn blacks formed voting majority seven percent districts percent entire council blacks constituted percent local population four seats tended go republicans one republicans elected black proportionality term used links number voting districts minority members share relevant population concept distinct subject proportional representation clause provides nothing section establishes right members protected class elected numbers equal proportion population proviso speaks success minority candidates distinct political electoral power minority voters cf senate report minority candidates success polls conclusive proof minority voters access political process proviso also confirms otherwise clear text statute namely ultimate right equality opportunity guarantee electoral success candidates whatever race minority voters might instead denied control single seat course district need include merely members majority group minority voters fragmented among districts denied power affect result district percent population determines electoral outcomes seven ten districts minority group said enjoy effective political power percent numerical strength see brief appellees nos statutory prohibition providing minorities less opportunity members electorate elect representatives choice given natural meaning violated district plan assures minority groups voting control numbers districts numerically proportional population area presence three gingles preconditions established parties dispute whether relevant figure minority group share population subset population eligible vote citizens years age registered another address students members military often elevate proportion status magic parameter dispositive resolve dispute see supra see generally kousser shaping southern politics suffrage restriction establishment south kousser undermining first reconstruction lessons second minority vote dilution davidson ed hearings extension voting rights act subcommittee civil constitutional rights house committee judiciary johnson degrandy state might say course ostensibly proportional districting schemes nonetheless subject diluting practices assur minority voters apparent voting power answer take us right back searching review factual totality leaving state defensive rule without particular utility degree probative value assigned disproportionality case shown vary degree disproportionality factors well indication congress intended mandate single universally applicable standard measuring undiluted minority voting strength regardless local conditions regardless extent past discrimination minority voters particular state political subdivision gingles concurring judgment argument proportionality statewide favors state based proportion hispanic citizens voting age statewide according census data available time trial thus record hispanics constitute percent citizen population florida corresponds eight nine house districts instead one calculates proportion statewide house districts basis total population population result favors plaintiffs hispanics constitute percent state total population percent state population corresponding seats johnson degrandy need choose among calculations decide cases five districts wholly within dade county hispanics concentrated population percent hispanic percent black sixty percent districts three five percent one five minority group protected enjoys effective voting majority marginally districts proportionality indicate percent percent johnson degrandy justice concurring critical issue case whether voting rights act requires courts maximize number districts minority voters may elect candidates choice district applying maximization principle operated apparent assumption done create additional hispanic districts done ante today makes clear district error voting rights act require maximization ante ailure maximize measure ante district johnson degrandy improperly equated dilution failure maximize number reasonably compact districts today opinion reject maximization principle opinion central teaching proportionality defined relationship number voting districts minority group share relevant population always relevant evidence determining vote dilution never dispositive lack proportionality probative evidence vote dilution ny theory vote dilution must necessarily rely extent measure minority voting strength makes reference proportion minority group electorate large thornburg gingles concurring judgment thus evaluating gingles preconditions totality circumstances must always consider relationship number voting districts minority group share population cf relative lack minority electoral success challenged plan compared success predicted measure undiluted minority voting strength employing constitute powerful evidence vote dilution also makes clear proportionality never dispositive lack proportionality never prove dilution courts must always carefully searchingly review totality circumstances including extent minority groups access political process ante presence proportionality prove absence dilution proportionality safe harbor immunize election schemes challenge ante sum carefully crafted approach treats johnson degrandy proportionality relevant evidence make relevant evidence makes clear require maximization minority voting strength yet remains faithful command minority voters given equal opportunity participate political process elect representatives choice understanding join opinion johnson degrandy justice kennedy concurring part concurring judgment trial plaintiffs alleged state violated voting rights act creating many districts feasible district agreed found violation thus equating impermissible vote dilution failure maximize number districts agree district maximization theory erroneous application difficult question whether proportionality ascertained comparing number johnson degrandy districts minority group proportion relevant population relevant deciding whether vote dilution challenge election district lines statutory text yield clear answer statute relevant part provides extent members protected class elected office state political subdivision one circumstance may considered determining whether vote dilution provided nothing section establishes right members protected class elected numbers equal proportion population emphasis original terms language addresses number minorities elected office number districts minorities constitute voting majority two things synonymous affront constitutional traditions treat assumption districts elect minority representatives districts elect white representatives false empirical matter see voinovich quilter slip thernstrom whose votes count affirmative action minority voting rights swain black faces black interests ch fundamental level assumption reflects demeaning notion members defined racial groups ascribe certain minority views must different citizens metro broadcasting fcc kennedy dissenting see also jewish organizations carey burger dissenting although statutory text speak precise terms issue precedents make clear proportionality lack thereof relevance vote dilution claim unanimous johnson degrandy decision last term recognized districts subject vote dilution challenges ividing politically cohesive minority group among various districts majority none one device diluting minority voting power within meaning statute voinovich quilter slip fragmentation minority group among various districts acknowledged dilutive device slip follows analysis takes account whether number districts falls short statistical norm cf washington davis discriminatory impact relevant allegation intentional discrimination majority concurring opinions thornburg gingles reflect understanding statute see gerrymander case plaintiffs might allege minority group sufficiently large compact constitute district split two multimember districts effect diluting potential strength minority vote concurring judgment ny theory vote dilution must necessarily rely extent measure minority voting strength makes reference proportion minority group electorate large indeed say proportionality irrelevant results test equivalent saying contrary precedents vote dilution challenges brought drawing districts sure placing undue emphasis upon proportionality risks defeating goals underlying voting rights act amended see gingles supra concurring judgment today decision provides lack proportionality never johnson degrandy dispositive proof vote dilution presence proportionality safe harbor immunize election schemes challenge ante concurring see also ante given past construction statute hesitate conclude proportionality relevance inquiry important emphasize precedents refer like today decision construe statute purport assess constitutional implications see chisom roemer kennedy dissenting operating constraints statutory regime proportionality relevance might consider lawful proper act explicit goal creating proportional number districts effort avoid litigation likewise finding violation might believe appropriate remedy order offending state engage redistricting create minimum number districts minorities constitute voting majority department justice might require effect condition granting preclearance act state proposed legislative redistricting governmental actions view tend entrench practices stereotypes equal protection clause set see metro broadcasting fcc supra kennedy dissenting general matter sorting persons intent divide reason race raises serious constitutional questions moral imperative racial neutrality driving force equal protection clause richmond croson kennedy concurring part concurring judgment racial classifications nature odious free people whose institutions founded upon johnson degrandy doctrine equality presumed invalid shaw reno slip internal quotation marks omitted see also bickel morality consent true regardless race burdened benefited particular classification croson supra opinion scalia concurring judgment furthermore axiomatic racial classifications become legitimate assumption persons suffer equal degree powers ohio see also plessy ferguson harlan dissenting racial religious lines drawn state multiracial multireligious communities constitution seeks weld together one become separatist antagonisms relate race religion rather political issues generated since system war democratic ideal find footing wright rockefeller dissenting opinion johnson degrandy decision shaw alluded resolve broad question whether intentional creation districts without always gives rise equal protection claim slip internal quotation marks omitted see also slip recognizing redistricting differs many kinds state decisionmaking legislature always aware race draws district lines aware age economic status religion political persuasion stated difficulty determining face districting plan purposefully distinguishes voters basis race mean racial gerrymander established receive less scrutiny equal protection clause state legislation classifying citizens race emphasis original went hold reapportionment scheme irrational face understood effort segregate voters separate voting districts race must subject strict scrutiny equal protection clause slip see also slip given decision shaw good reason state federal officials responsibilities related redistricting well reviewing courts recognize explicit districting embarks us dangerous course necessary bear mind redistricting must comply overriding demands equal protection clause constitutional claims brought opinion address constitutional issues cf johnson degrandy voinovich quilter slip observations concur parts iv opinion judgment johnson degrandy justice thomas justice scalia joins dissenting reasons explain holder hall ante vacate judgment district remand instructions dismiss actions consolidated cases failure state claim voting rights act actions consolidated cases asserted florida apportionment plan diluted vote minority group accordance views express holder hold apportionment plan standard practice procedure may challenged therefore respectfully dissent page