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Watkins v. MabusWatkins v. Mabus

Supreme Court of the United States
Nov 12, 1991
No. 91-434
Reporters:
,
Before:
Blackmun

Appeal from D. C. S. D. Miss. Judgment affirmed except with respect to ‍‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​‍appellants’ claim that the preclearance requirements of § 5 of the Voting Rights Act apply to the changes in the absentee ballot procedures adopted for ‍‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​‍the September 17 election ordered by the District Court. The completion of the September 17 election has rendered this claim moot with regard *955to the relief ‍‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​‍sought, i. e., an order enjoining the September 17 election for failure to comply with preclearance requirements. Accordingly, we vacate that portion of the judgment below with ‍‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​‍instructions to dismiss the relevant part of the complaint. Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 492 U. S. 490, 512-513 (1989); United States v. Munsingwear, Inc., 340 U. S. 36, 39-40 (1950).

Justice Blackmun ‍‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​‍and Justice Stevens would note probable jurisdiction and set case for oral argument.

Case Details

Case Name: Watkins v. Mabus
Court Name: Supreme Court of the United States
Date Published: Nov 12, 1991
Citations: 502 U.S. 954; 112 S. Ct. 412; No. 91-434
Docket Number: No. 91-434
Court Abbreviation: U.S.
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