hunt governor north carolina et al cromartie et argued november decided april found north carolina legislature violated constitution using race predominant factor drawing twelfth congressional district boundaries shaw hunt state redrew boundaries district subsequently granted appellees summary judgment finding new boundaries also created racial considerations dominating others reversed finding genuine issue material fact whether evidence consistent objective constitutional political objective creating safe democratic seat hunt cromartie among things relied evidence proposed submitted appellants conclude state voters overwhelmingly voted democratic one easily distinguish legislative effort create district legislative effort create safely democratic one data showing voter registration indicate voters actually vote data actual behavior affect litigation outcome remand district held trial legislature used race driven criteria drawing boundaries based conclusion three findings district shape splitting towns counties heavily voting population considered found summary judgment inappropriate new finding legislature drawn boundaries collect precincts high racial rather political identification held district conclusion state violated equal protection clause drawing boundaries based clearly erroneous findings pp issue evidentiary whether adequate support district finding race rather politics drove legislature districting decision attacking district demanding burden proof show facially neutral law unexplainable grounds race cromartie supra underlying districting decision falls within legislature sphere competence miller johnson courts must exercise extraordinary caution adjudicating claims one especially state articulated legitimate political explanation districting decision voting population one race political affiliation highly coordinated see cromartie supra review district findings clear error asking whether entire evidence left definite firm conviction mistake committed gypsum extensive review district findings warranted intermediate review trial lengthy key evidence consisted primarily documents expert testimony credibility evaluations played minor role pp critical district determination race politics predominantly explains boundaries rests upon three findings found insufficient support summary judgment matter law support district judgment see bush vera determination also rests upon five new subsidiary findings also accept adequate first district primarily relied evidence voting registration voting behavior precisely kind evidence found inadequate last time case white registered democrats vote republican often register vote democratic time thus legislature trying secure safe democratic seat placing reliable democratic precincts within district may end district containing heavily precincts political racial reasons second evidence appellees expert weber pointed reliably democratic voting population necessary create safe democratic seat district reliable certain precincts excluded precincts included one precinct split districts plans created safely democratic district fewer precincts simply provide significant additional support district conclusion also portions weber testimony cited district undercut conclusions third district accepting contrary conclusion appellants expert peterson far record reveals reject much significant supporting factual information provided showed democratic voters reliably democratic district boundaries drawn include reliable democrats fourth statement racial balance made senator cooper legislative redistricting leader shows legislature considered race along partisan geographic considerations says little whether race played predominant role sent gerry cohen legislative staff member responsible drafting districting plans offers support district conclusion less persuasive kinds direct evidence found significant redistricting cases fifth appellees maps summarizing voting behavior evidence tend refute district race politics conclusion pp modicum evidence supporting district conclusion cohen senator cooper statement aspects weber testimony taken together show racial considerations predominated boundaries drawing race case correlates closely political behavior districts issue racial identification correlates highly political affiliation party attacking boundaries must show least legislature achieved legitimate political objectives alternative ways comparably consistent traditional districting principles alternatives brought significantly greater racial balance appellees failed make showing district contrary findings clearly erroneous pp reversed breyer delivered opinion stevens souter ginsburg joined thomas filed dissenting opinion rehnquist scalia kennedy joined james hunt governor north carolina et appellants martin cromartie et al alfred smallwood et appellants martin cromartie et al appeals district eastern district north carolina april justice breyer delivered opinion appeal review district determination north carolina legislature used race predominant factor drawing congressional district boundaries findings view clearly erroneous therefore reverse conclusion state violated equal protection clause amdt racial districting litigation us fourth time first two holdings addressed north carolina former congressional district one two north carolina congressional districts drawn contained majority voters see shaw reno shaw shaw hunt shaw ii shaw considered whether plaintiffs factual allegation legislature drawn former district boundaries reasons true underlie legal holding legislature violated equal protection clause held wrote violation may exist legislature boundary drawing though race neutral face nonetheless understood effort separate voters different districts basis race separation lacks sufficient justification shaw ii reversed subsequent district holding law question violate constitution found district unconventional snakelike shape way boundaries split towns counties predominately racial history together demonstrated deliberate effort create district race compromised simply district designed protec democratic incumbents concluded legislature use racial criteria justified third holding focused new district boundaries legislature redrawn hunt cromartie district one judge dissenting granted summary judgment favor challenging district boundaries found legislature used criteria facially race driven violation equal protection clause app juris statement based conclusion upon uncontroverted material facts showing boundaries created unusually shaped district split counties cities particular placed almost heavily predominantly voting precincts inside district locating heavily predominantly white precincts outside district latter circumstance said showed legislature trying maximize new district voting strength district democratic voting strength ibid reversed agreed district new district shape way split towns counties heavily voting population helped plaintiffs case neither evidence coupled evidence democratic registration sufficient show summary judgment unconstitutional objective plaintiffs claimed genuine issue material fact whether evidence also consistent constitutional political objective namely creation safe democratic seat pointed affidavit expert witness defendants david peterson peterson offered show north carolina voters overwhelmingly democratic voters one easily distinguish legislative effort create district legislative effort create safely democratic district also provided data showing registration indicate voters actually vote agreed data showing voters actually behave data showing voters registered affect outcome litigation ibid concluded case suited summary disposition reversed district remand parties undertook additional discovery district held trial held dissent legislature unconstitutionally drawn district new boundaries found legislature tried cur previous district constitutional defects also drawing plan maintain existing partisan balance state congressional delegation app juris statement added achieve second goal legislature drew new plan avoid placing two incumbents district preserve partisan core existing districts ibid concluded plan enacted largely reflects directives ibid also found matter fact general assembly used criteria facially race driven without compelling justification based latter constitutionally critical conclusion part upon district snakelike shape way split cities towns heavily voting population matters considered found summary judgment inappropriate cromartie supra also based conclusion upon specific finding absent previously considered litigation legislature drawn boundaries order collect precincts high racial identification rather political identification app juris statement emphasis added finding rested turn upon five subsidiary determinations legislators excluded many precincts district even precincts immediately border twelfth established far compact district see also heavily democratic precincts bypassed favor precincts higher population dditionally plaintiffs expert weber showed time race trumped party affiliation construction district political explanations utterly failed explain composition district peterson testimony unreliable relevant citing testimony weber legislative redistricting leader senator roy cooper alluded time redistricting need racial partisan balance ibid senate redistricting coordinator gerry cohen sent senator cooper reporting cooper moved greensboro black community need ed take app app juris statement state intervenors filed notice appeal noted probable jurisdiction reverse ii issue case evidentiary must determine whether adequate support district key findings particularly ultimate finding legislature motive predominantly racial political making determination aware shaw later cases burden proof plaintiffs attack district demanding one miller johnson concurring specified claim legislature improperly used race criterion order example create district must show minimum legislature subordinated traditional districting principles racial considerations majority opinion race must simply motivation drawing majority minority district bush vera principal opinion emphasis original predominant factor motivating legislature districting decision cromartie also made clear underlying districting decision one ordinarily falls within legislature sphere competence miller hence legislature must discretion exercise political judgment necessary balance competing interests courts must exercise extraordinary caution adjudicating claims state drawn district lines basis race emphasis added caution especially appropriate case state articulated legitimate political explanation districting decision voting population one race political affiliation highly correlated see cromartie supra noting vidence blacks constitute even supermajority one congressional district amounting less plurality neighboring district suffice prove jurisdiction motivated race drawing district lines evidence also shows high correlation race party preference also aware review district findings clear error applying standard like reviewing reverse lower finding fact simply decided case differently anderson bessemer city rather reviewing must ask whether entire evidence left definite firm conviction mistake committed gypsum intermediate reviews affirms trial factual findings lightly overturn concurrent findings two lower courts neil biggers instance intermediate review moreover trial issue lengthy key evidence consisted primarily documents expert testimony credibility evaluations played minor role accordingly find extensive review district findings clear error warranted see bose consumers union review leaves us definite firm conviction gypsum supra district key findings mistaken iii critical district determination matter remanded litigation consists finding race rather politics predominantly explains district boundaries determination rests upon three findings district shape splitting towns counties high voting population previously found insufficient support summary judgment cromartie supra given undisputed evidence racial identification highly correlated political affiliation north carolina facts matter law support district judgment see vera principal opinion district lines merely correlate race drawn basis political affiliation correlates race racial classification justify district rested however upon five new subsidiary findings conclude district lines product mer correlat ion instead result predominance race legislature process see supra considering subsidiary finding given weight fact district familiar litigation heard testimony witness considered evidence care nonetheless accept district findings adequate reasons shall spell detail summarize follows first primary evidence upon district relied race politics conclusion evidence voting registration voting behavior precisely kind evidence said inadequate last time case us see infra second additional evidence appellees expert weber pointed statements made senator cooper gerry cohen simply provide significant additional support district conclusion see infra third district accepting contrary conclusion appellants expert peterson far record reveals reject much significant supporting factual information provided see infra fourth event appellees provided us charts summarizing evidence voting behavior charts tend refute race politics conclusion see infra appendixes infra district primarily based race politics conclusion upon finding legislators excluded many precincts district even precincts immediately border twelfth established far compact district app juris statement see also ore heavily democratic precincts bypassed favor precincts higher population finding however insofar differs remaining four rests solely upon evidence legislature excluded heavily white precincts high democratic party registration including heavily precincts equivalent lower democratic party registration see indeed district cites length figures showing legislature included several precincts racial compositions percent excluding certain adjacent precincts less percent population contain registered democrats said problem evidence focuses upon party registration upon voting behavior previously found evidence compare ibid district opinion trial district summary judgment opinion inadequate registration figures accurately predict preference polls see see also cromartie describing peterson analysis thorough north carolina party registration party preference always correspond part white voters registered democrats vote republican candidate often register vote democratic time see record deposition gerry cohen discussing data app stating white voters cast votes republican candidates weber testimony register vote democrats see also testimony weber registration data least reliable information upon predict voter behavior legislature trying secure safe democratic seat interested democratic voting behavior hence legislature may placing reliable democratic precincts within district without regard race end district containing heavily precincts reasons political rather racial insofar district relied upon voting registration data particularly data previously us tells us nothing new data help answer question posed previously remanded litigation cromartie supra district wrote dditionally laintiffs expert weber showed time race trumped party affiliation construction district political explanations utterly failed explain composition district app juris statement support conclusion relied upon six different citations weber trial testimony examined reference first cited pages trial transcript weber says reliably democratic voting population sufficient create safe democratic seat app yet adds legislature created reliable democratic voting population district hence read weber infer legislature likely driven race politics tr app record indicates however although weber right district reliably democratic exceeds figure little weber ask whether districts unchallenged appellees significantly less safe district fact figures legislature used showed district reliably democratic app juris statement democratic vote three representative elections averaged measures least two republican districts districts reliably republican ibid weber conceded incumbents might urged legislators trying maintain delegation split make seats safe safe possible app field voting behavior figures inherently uncertain weber tiny calculated percentage differences simply small carry significant evidentiary weight district cited two parts transcript weber testified table prepared listing precincts six counties portions make district tr weber said district contains precincts depending county reliably democratic contains almost every precinct voters essentially asks legislature politics primarily mind effort place reliably democratic precincts within district produced greater racial mixture weber testimony provides answer question weber agreed precincts listed table least reliably democratic virtually precincts included district reliably democratic moreover none excluded white precincts reliably democratic precincts included district app yet legislature sought precincts reliably democratic precincts democratic obvious political reasons neither table specify whether excluded precincts located near enough district boundaries legislature practical matter drawn district boundaries included without sacrificing important political goals contrary suggested fact weber proposed alternative plan see pitted two incumbents sue myrick republican former district mel watt democrat former district weber testified result competitive race one losing seat desirable legislature political racial reasons believed opposite drew plan protect incumbents legitimate political goal recognized district app juris statement reasons weber table offers little insight legislature true motive next part transcript district cited contains weber testimony mecklenburg county precinct precinct legislature split districts tr weber apparently thought legislature split precinct placing heavily segment within district unless course motive racial rather political weber simultaneously conceded considered whether district incumbent republican wanted whole precinct left district burdened significant additional number reliably democratic voters app weber test ed conclusion split helped show racial rather political motive say adjusting boundary lines determining political nonracial consequences adjustments maps evidence indicate placed precinct within district created district peninsula invaded district neatly dividing latter district two see conclusive nonracial reason legislature decision district cited weber conclusion race predominant factor tr statement conclusion stronger evidence underlies district final citation weber assertion ways legislature created safely democratic district without placing many primarily districts within district recognize ways may exist unless evidence also shows hypothetical alternative districts better satisfied legislature nonracial political goals well traditional nonracial districting principles fact alone show improper legislative motive constitution place affirmative obligation upon legislature avoid creating districts turn heavily even majority minority simply imposes obligation create districts predominantly racial opposed political traditional districting motivations weber testimony pages cited provide evidence politically practical alternative plan legislature failed adopt predominantly racial reasons addition read whole weber testimony including portions cited district portions undercut weber conclusions weber said example developed conclusions erroneous impression legislature districting program provided information racial political balance app see also reflecting weber erroneous impression declaration submitted district also said aware anything political dynamics going egislature involving district sometimes expressing disdain process cautioned courts respect miller portions support weber conclusions weber testified example different alternative plan view provided greater racial balance political security namely plan legislature enact effect time courts reviewing constitutionality plan app existence alternative plan however help appellees significantly although created somewhat compact district still divides many communities along racial lines providing fewer reliably democratic district voters transferring group highly democratic precincts two safely republican districts namely districts political result plan sought avoid see tr furthermore plan unlike plan joined three major cities manner legislators regarded reflecting real commonality urban interests inner city schools urban health care problems public housing problems app statement sen winner see also statement martin consequently tell whether existence plan shows plan drawn racial considerations predominant event district rely upon existence plan support ultimate conclusion see kelley everglades drainage per curiam see weber testimony taken whole provided minimal support district conclusion race predominantly underlay legislature districting decision district found testimony state primary expert peterson unreliable relevant app juris statement quoting weber citing tr peterson testimony designed show democratic voters reliably democratic district boundaries drawn include reliable democrats specifically peterson compared precincts immediately within district immediately without determine whether boundaries district corresponded better race politics principle underlying peterson analysis district drawn race predominantly mind one expect boundaries district correlate race politics pages cited support district rejection peterson conclusions contain testimony weber says peterson analysis unreliable ignor es core district fails take account fact different precincts different populations first matter ignoring core apparently reflects weber view context fact district heart core heavily shows legislature motive predominantly racial political district argue racial makeup district core critical see core makeup alone help discern relevant legislative motive nothing suggests core makeup answer question previously found critical cromartie second matter peterson boundary segment analysis account differences population precincts relates one aspect peterson testimony appellants presented peterson testimony data support four propositions first registration figures accurately reflect actual voting behavior see app juris statement second reliable democrats whites see third political affiliation explains splitting cities counties well race see fourth differences racial political makeup precincts inside outside boundaries district show politics good explanation race district boundaries see district criticism peterson testimony affects reliability fourth element peterson testimony special boundary segment analysis district criticism peterson boundary segment analysis undermine data related split communities criticism undercut peterson presentation statistical evidence showing registration poor indicator party preference much reliably democratic voters found record significant evidence refuting data time appellees used information available record create maps comparing district boundaries voting behavior see appendixes infra one challenges accuracy maps assume reliable assume peterson testimony reliable insofar confirms maps contain appellees concede maps certain exceptions discussed see infra indicate legislature drew boundaries general placed democratic voters inside district placing democratic voters outside district fact turn supports state answers questions previously found critical district also relied two pieces direct evidence discriminatory intent found legislative redistricting leader senator roy cooper testifying legislative committee said plan satisfies need racial partisan balance app juris statement concluded words racial balance referred balance state congressional delegation ibid hence senator cooper admitted legislature drawn plan race mind senator cooper full statement reads follows dealt redistricting realize solve problem encounter everyone find problem plan however think overall provides fair geographic racial partisan balance throughout state north carolina think order come agreement sides give little bit think reached agreement live app agree one read statement racial balance district read refer current congressional delegation racial balance even read phrase shows legislature considered race along partisan geographic considerations read says little nothing whether race played predominant role comparatively speaking see vera principal opinion strict scrutiny apply merely redistricting performed consciousness race see also miller legislatures almost always aware racial demographics shaw second piece direct evidence relied upon district february sent gerry cohen legislative staff member responsible drafting districting plans senator cooper senator leslie winner cohen wrote moved greensboro black community need take await direction app reference race black community obvious discuss point reference discuss greensboro voters placed district discuss political consequences failing addressed two members legislature suggests legislature paid less attention race respect district respect district provides far extensive detailed discussion racial percentages less persuasive kinds direct evidence found significant redistricting cases see vera supra principal opinion state conceded one goals create district miller supra state set create district shaw ii recounting testimony cohen creating district principal reason version district nonetheless offers support district conclusion said assume maps appended appellees brief reflect record insofar record describes relation district boundaries reliably democratic voting behavior consequently shall consider appellees related claims made appeal maps provide significant support district show legislature might swapped several heavily district precincts less heavily adjacent precincts without harming basic safely democratic political objective cf supra first appellees suggest without identifying specific swap legislature brought within district several reliably democratic primarily white precincts forsyth county see brief appellees none precincts however reliably democratic precincts immediately adjacent within district see appendix infra showing cratic strength reflected republican victories precinct app showing democratic strength democratic registration one recreation precinct heavily see ibid remainder form buffer home precinct fifth district representative richard burr district border removal district deprive representative burr large portion hometown making vulnerable challenge elsewhere within district app juris statement app consequently forsyth county precincts significantly help appellees race politics thesis second appellees say legislature might swapped two district davidson county precincts thomasville lexington district guilford county precinct greensboro see brief appellees whatever virtues swap however diminished size district geographically producing unusually narrow isthmus linking district north south demographically producing state smallest district deviating legislatively endorsed ideal mean population traditional districting considerations consequently militated swap see record deposition linwood lee jones stating legislature goal keep deviations ideal population less app testimony cooper effect third appellees suggest mecklenburg county two district precincts charlotte swapped two district precincts charlotte see brief appellees suggestion difficult evaluate parties provide map specifically identifies precinct mecklenburg county name nonetheless tell swap make district marginally white decreasing population persons making shape questionable leaving precinct immediately south charlotte jutting district convinced proposal materially advances appellees claim fourth appellees argue legislature swapped two reliably democratic greensboro precincts outside district four reliably republican high point precincts placed within district see ibid swap improved racial balance significantly however six precincts population less additionally altered shape district worse see appendix infra see also app testimony gerry cohen event decision exclude two greensboro precincts seems reflect legislature decision draw boundaries follow main thoroughfares guilford county app juris statement app even judgments respect precincts wrong showing legislature might swapped handful precincts total precincts involving population hundred total population half million significantly strengthen appellees case iv concede record contains modicum evidence offering support district conclusion evidence includes cohen senator cooper reference racial balance minor degree aspects weber testimony evidence taken together however show racial considerations predominated drawing district boundaries race case correlates closely political behavior basic question whether legislature drew district boundaries race rather political behavior coupled traditional nonracial districting considerations dissent contends see post whether legislature may defend districting decisions based stereotype voting behavior given fact party attacking legislature decision bears burden proving racial considerations dominant controlling miller given demanding nature burden proof concurring given sensitivity extraordinary caution district courts must show avoid treading upon legislative prerogatives majority opinion attacking party successfully shown race rather politics predominantly accounts result record leaves us definite firm conviction gypsum district erred finding contrary believe providing appellees opportunity make precinct swapping arguments district change result put matter generally follows case one districts approximate equivalent issue racial identification correlates highly political affiliation party attacking legislatively drawn boundaries must show least legislature achieved legitimate political objectives alternative ways comparably consistent traditional districting principles party must also show districting alternatives brought significantly greater racial balance appellees failed make showing conclude district contrary findings clearly erroneous disposition need address appellants alternative grounds reversal judgment district reversed appendixes containing maps appellees appellants briefs follow page graphic omitted see printed opinion james hunt governor north carolina et appellants martin cromartie et al alfred smallwood et appellants martin cromartie et al appeals district eastern district north carolina april justice thomas chief justice justice scalia justice kennedy join dissenting issue district whether racial considerations predominant design north carolina congressional district issue simply whether district factual finding racial considerations predominate clearly erroneous believe committed clear error respectfully dissent district conclusion race predominant factor motivating north carolina legislature factual finding see hunt cromartie lawyer department justice shaw hunt miller johnson see also anderson bessemer city ntentional discrimination finding fact accordingly overturn district determination unless clearly erroneous see lawyer supra shaw supra miller supra permitted reverse finding simply convinced decided case differently anderson supra two permissible views evidence factfinder choice clearly erroneous cite cases address correct standard review see ante couch conclusion clearly erroneous terms see ante incantations correct standard empty gestures contradicted conclusion must engage extensive review see ante several ways ignores role reviewing engages factfinding first suggests significance absence intermediate action see ibid legitimate consideration legitimate mentioned prior redistricting cases miller shaw also benefit intermediate appellate review see also oregon state medical engaging clear error review factual findings sherman act case intermediate appellate review cases stated standard simply clearly erroneous moreover implication argument intermediate courts first reviewers factfinder conclusions engage level review rigorous clear error review suggestion supported law see fed rule civ proc findings fact whether based oral documentary evidence shall set aside unless clearly erroneous fact case cited articulate clear error review discussed standard applied intermediate appellate obviously benefit another layer review see ante citing anderson supra second appears discount clear error review trial lengthy ante even considerations length trial relevant deciding review factual findings assumption considerations counsel deference action trial hours long bose consumers union lasted three days heard testimony witnesses quite apart total trial time district sifted hundreds pages deposition testimony expert analysis including statistical analysis also forgotten one member panel reviewed iterations district since one calibrate clear error review according trier fact familiarity case simply question gained working knowledge facts litigation myriad ways period far longer three days third downplays deference district finding highlighting key evidence expert testimony requiring traditional credibility determinations see ante factual matter overlooks district express assessment legislative redistricting leader credibility see app juris statement pp also likely interpretation written gerry cohen primary drafter district influenced evaluation cohen witness see see also app legal matter emphasis technical nature evidence misses mark although recognized particular weight given trial credibility determinations never held factual findings based documentary evidence expert testimony justify extensive review ante contrary explained anderson rationale deference limited superiority trial judge position make determinations credibility see also fed rule civ proc specifically referring oral documentary evidence instead rationale deference extends determinations fact trial judge expertise making determinations accordingly deference factfinder rule exception see reason depart rule case us finally perhaps best evidence emptied clear error review meaningful content redistricting context strongest testament fact district dealing complex fact pattern foray minutiae record doubt ability sift volumes facts argue interpretation facts persuasively doubt wisdom efficiency increased accuracy legitimacy extensive review searching clear error review see duplication trial judge efforts likely contribute negligibly accuracy fact determination huge cost diversion judicial resources thus follow precedents simply review district finding clear error ii reviewing clear error say district view evidence first relied objective measures compactness show district geographically scattered district north carolina support conclusion district design dictated traditional districting concerns app juris statement although evidence available held summary judgment inappropriate certainly hold irrelevant determining whether racial gerrymandering occurred contrary determined triable issue fact moreover although acknowledged district unusual shape give rise inference political motivation doubt ed bizarre shape equally supports political inference racial one hunt explained ome districts highly irregular rationally understood anything effort segregat voters basis race ibid internal quotation marks omitted second relied expert opinion weber interpreted statistical data conclude democratic precincts low black populations excluded district created compact district app juris statement contrary assertion weber merely examine registration data reaching conclusions weber explained refocused analysis performance response concerns reversed district summary judgment finding voter registration might best measure democratic nature precinct see citing trial appears app fact lost district specifically referred pages record covering weber analysis performance third credited weber testimony districting decisions explained political app juris statement first instance like ante might well concluded district significantly safer several districts north carolina merely democratic reliability exceeded optimum percent might concluded make political sense incumbents adopt reliable better policy districting however certainly say inference facts fourth discredited testimony state witness peterson app juris statement explaining weber testified peterson analysis ignor ed core ha appropriately done unreliable like district judge might found weber insistence one ignore core however even core ignored seems weber testimony peterson failed analyze segments thus analysis incomplete app reasonably supported conclusion finally found evidence demonstrated race foremost legislative agenda drafter plans senators charge legislative redistricting computer capability draw district race statements made senator cooper legislature going able avoid shaw trigger ending short app juris statement combination indirect evidence evidence ample enough support district finding purposes clear error review drafter redistricting plans reported bluntest terms moved greensboro black community district need take district app certainly district entitled believe drafter targeting voters shifting district boundaries purely basis race tries belittle import evidence noting discuss blacks targeted see ante however district assigned task determining whether race predominated see inquiry sufficient answer constitutional question racial gerrymandering offends constitution whether motivation malicious benign defense legislature merely may drawn district based stereotype blacks reliable democratic voters regardless whether tended show legislature operating even stronger racial motivation drawing district drawing district cf ante convinced district permissibly accorded great weight direct evidence racial motive surely decision racially motivated even another decision also racially motivated district might reached conclusion evidence taken together show racial considerations predominated drawing district boundaries ante trier fact role weigh evidence first instance question decide whether district finding racial predominance clearly erroneous light direct evidence racial motive inferences may drawn circumstantial evidence satisfied district finding permissible even compelled record footnotes together smallwood et al cromartie et also appeal footnotes despite citation bose consumers union ante read opinion suggest predominant factor inquiry like actual malice inquiry bose reviewed de novo constitutional fac miller johnson shaw hunt bose cites support discounting clear error review ante state likelihood appellate rely presumption correctness factual findings tends increase trial judges lived controversy weeks months instead hours unclear however bearing statement fact appellate courts defer factual findings often trial long understanding scope clear error review bose held lower actual malice finding must reviewed de novo see clear error review must calibrated length trial assume district goal protecting incumbents legitimate even individuals incumbents virtue election unconstitutional racially gerrymandered district doubt assumption questionable proposition issue presented action however read opinion addressing think necessary impose new burden appellees show districting alternatives brought significantly greater racial balance ante say impermissible conclude race predominated action even slightly better district drawn absent racial considerations district may reasonably found racial motivations predominated selecting one alternative another even net effect racial balance significant weber admitted first concluded race motivating factor mistaken impression legislature computer program provided racial political data finds admission undercut validity weber conclusions see ibid although district found impression sufficiently significant assumption weber analysis conclusions drawn analysis suspect required matter logic reasonably believed false impression little statistical analysis largely responsible weber conclusions addition discounts weber testimony express ed disdain process cautioned courts respect ibid weber openly state believes best districts seen drawn judges legislatures app however whether weber simply stating conclusions reached experience expressing feeling contempt toward legislature precisely kind tone demeanor bias determination even acknowledges left factfinder cf ante also criticizes weber testimony precinct split racially motivated proposed alternative precinct moved district apparently believes obvious republican incumbent district wanted whole precinct district see ante addresses part weber alternative districts drawn fashion weber explained alternative simply move precinct district alternative also include moving reliably democratic precincts district district presumably satisfied incumbent app move result keeping precinct intact also widening corridor eastern western portions district thereby increasing functional contiguity criticism moving precinct district work simply red herring weber talked moving precinct district moving precinct district course considering district never constitutionally drawn weber criticism problem district lies edges core without force also relied statement legislative redistricting leader senator cooper north carolina legislature see app juris statement senator mentioned goals geographical political racial balance app isolation statement appear support finding race motive unlike however district advantage listening watching senator cooper testify therefore position question likely analysis although senator cooper mentioned three motives predominance race apparent determination made reasonable fact district found senator claim regarding happenstance final composition district lack credibility light app juris statement