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United States v. Raines

362 U.S. 17 (1960)

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United States v. Raines

United States Supreme Court
362 U.S. 17 (1960)

Facts

The United States attorney general (plaintiff) sued James Raines and other voting officials for Terrell County, Georgia (collectively, the county officials) (defendants) in federal district court, alleging they had unlawfully discriminated against Black residents attempting to register to vote. The attorney general brought the action under a federal statute that allowed the attorney general to sue “any person” who discriminated against a voter or potential voter based on race. The district court ruled the statute was unconstitutional because the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited racial discrimination only by state actors, and the statute’s use of “any person” could be interpreted to permit lawsuits against private actors. The court held that this potentially unconstitutional application voided the statute in all situations. Accordingly, even though the attorney general’s complaint named only state actors as defendants, the district court dismissed the lawsuit. The attorney general appealed directly to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Brennan, J.)

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