Case Summary

In 1972, a Louisiana voter filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Louisiana Supreme Court’s judicial districts as malapportioned in violation of the one person, one vote requirement under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

  • The federal district court ruled for the defendants on the grounds the one person, one vote requirement did not apply to judicial elections and apportionment. It explained the underlying rationale for one person, one vote, is primarily to ensure that all elected representatives speak for approximately the same number of constituents, and this shouldn’t apply to judges who neither represent constituents nor exercise legislative or executive functions like other elected officials do.
  • On August 16, 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the district court’s decision.

Significance: The One Person, One Vote constitutional principle does not apply to judicial districts and apportionments.

Case Library

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana - 347 F.Supp. 453 (M.D. La. 1972)

U.S. Supreme Court - 409 U.S. 1095 (1973)