By:  Carriker                                    S.R. No. 512
       73R7572 MPC-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The United States District Court for the Southern
    1-2  District of Texas, Brownsville Division, has held in the case of
    1-3  Rangel v. Mattox, that the state's current method of electing
    1-4  judges of the courts of appeals, as applied to the 13th Court of
    1-5  Appeals, violates Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, The court having found in its July 28, 1989, order
    1-7  that at-large elections for the 13th Court of Appeals violate the
    1-8  Voting Rights Act, and the State of Texas having declined to
    1-9  suggest a remedy for the violation, the court implemented an
   1-10  interim plan of apportionment on November 8, 1989; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, On February 23, 1993, the League of United Latin
   1-12  American Citizens (LULAC) of Texas filed a complaint against the
   1-13  State of Texas alleging that the at-large, by place, majority vote,
   1-14  and run-off nomination and general election procedures for electing
   1-15  judges of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 14th Courts of Appeals
   1-16  also violate Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, The policy of the State of Texas expressed in its
   1-18  constitution and laws is that election of judges be by partisan,
   1-19  popular election; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, It is necessary that the policies of the state be
   1-21  consistent with requirements of federal law, and it also is
   1-22  desirable that the senate express its preference for resolution of
   1-23  the pending litigation; now, therefore, be it
   1-24        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 73rd
    2-1  Legislature, hereby encourage the attorney general of Texas to
    2-2  settle the cases of Rangel v. Mattox and LULAC of Texas v. State of
    2-3  Texas in accordance with the policy expressed herein and in as
    2-4  timely a manner as possible; and, be it further
    2-5        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    2-6  forwarded to the attorney general of Texas as an official
    2-7  expression of the sentiment of the Senate of the State of Texas.