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Ex Parte Virginia

United States Supreme Court

100 U.S. 339 (1879)

Facts

J. D. Coles (plaintiff) was a county court judge in the State of Virginia. Coles refused to allow Black citizens to serve on his juries. He was charged in federal court with violating the act of Congress of March 1, 1875 (or the Civil Rights Act of 1875), which provided that otherwise qualified citizens could not be disqualified from jury service based on color or race. Coles filed a writ of habeas corpus, alleging that the act was unconstitutional and that the district court did not have jurisdiction over the matter.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Strong, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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