Case: United States v. Wilder

Civ. A. No. 8695 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Feb. 21, 1962

Closed Date: Oct. 23, 1963

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(There's no summary yet, while we research the case.)

Summary Authors

Ella Bedecarre (1/27/2025)

People

Attorney for Plaintiff

Doar, John (District of Columbia)

Marshall, Burke (District of Columbia)

White, Byron Raymond (District of Columbia)

Wilson, T. Fitzhugh (Louisiana)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Civ. A. No. 8695

Opinion

Oct. 23, 1963

Oct. 23, 1963

Order/Opinion

222 F.Supp. 749

1

Complaint

US v. Wilder

None

Complaint

Resources

Title Description External URL Date / External URL

Beware the Minority Block Vote

Winter’ and Williams' campaign for Mississippi’s 1967 gubernatorial elections. Winter lost to John Bell Williams in the second primary by a count of 371,815 to 310,527. The loss is attributed to Wint…

6 Updated Questions to Elemental Knowledge of the Constitution and Government

In the 1960s, literacy tests were used as a tool to prevent Black Americans and other minorities from voting, despite the fact that they were ostensibly designed to ensure an educated electorate. The…

Updated Newspaper Article

Unknown

Political campaign ad for John Bell Williams for Mississippi governor July 1, 1967

July 1, 1967

Questions Evidence Elemental Knowledge of the Constitution and Government 1965

In the 1960s, literacy tests were used as a tool to prevent Black Americans and other minorities from voting, despite the fact that they were ostensibly designed to ensure an educated electorate. The… Feb. 8, 1965

Feb. 8, 1965

Form of Application for Registration

In the post-Reconstruction era, Louisiana enacted several discriminatory voter registration practices as part of its 1898 constitution, specifically designed to disenfranchise Black Americans. The co… Nov. 2, 1959

Nov. 2, 1959

November 2 1959 Form of Application for Registration

Office of Registrar of Voters

In the post-Reconstruction era, Louisiana enacted several discriminatory voter registration practices as part of its 1898 constitution, specifically designed to disenfranchise Black Americans. The co… Nov. 2, 1959

Nov. 2, 1959

Ouachita Parish 1959 Application for Registration Form

Ouachita Parish

In the post-Reconstruction era, Louisiana enacted several discriminatory voter registration practices as part of its 1898 constitution, specifically designed to disenfranchise Black Americans. The co… Sept. 11, 1959

Sept. 11, 1959

November 16 1956 Form of Application for Registration

In the post-Reconstruction era, Louisiana enacted several discriminatory voter registration practices as part of its 1898 constitution, specifically designed to disenfranchise Black Americans. The co… Nov. 16, 1956

Nov. 16, 1956

Docket

Last updated March 13, 2024, 3 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 21, 1962

Closing Date: Oct. 23, 1963

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Public Counsel

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Estelle Wilder, County

State of Louisiana, State

Citizens’ Council of Jackson Parish and six individual members: Louie C. Boss, Rufus G. Pipes, G. W. Acklin, Harold C. Haile, Joseph W. Dark, Jr., and R. L. Salter, County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights Act of 1957/1960, 52 U.S.C. § 10101 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1971)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Fifteenth Amendment

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Attorneys fees

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Monitoring

Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)

Voting Process Changes

Voter Registration

Amount Defendant Pays: litigation costs

Issues

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Voting:

Candidate qualifications

Voter qualifications

Voter registration rules

Voting: General & Misc.