Page:United States Reports 502 OCT. TERM 1991.pdf/1034

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OPINION OF INDIVIDUAL JUSTICE IN CHAMBERS

CAMPOS et al. v. CITY OF HOUSTON et al. on application for injunction and stay No. A–301. Decided October 29, 1991 The application seeking an injunction and stay stopping imminent elections for the Houston City Council is denied because there is no legal basis for such an original order. Assuming that the applicants would desire the lesser relief of a mere stay of the District Court’s order implementing a redistricting plan for the elections, that too must be denied. There is no evidence that the city was acting in bad faith in seeking that order, and both the applicants and the United States share some responsibility for this matter’s having been presented and decided in inordinate haste. Relying on the judgment of those federal judges on the scene, who have declined the stay, it also cannot be said with certainty that more good than harm to the public interest will be achieved by staying the District Court’s order.

Justice Scalia, Circuit Justice. The application before me seeks “an injunction and stay from the Court stopping the entire City election process” with respect to elections for the Houston City Council scheduled for November 5. Application 11. As the amicus United States points out, there is no basis in law for such an original order, and the application must be denied. Assuming that the applicants would desire the lesser relief of a mere stay of the District Court’s order, I would nonetheless deny it. The issuance by a circuit justice of a stay pending appeal calls for consideration of not only the probability that the district court was wrong, but also the nature of (including responsibility for) the alleged injury that will occur absent a stay, and the effect that a stay would have upon the public interest. See Republican State Central Comm. of 1301