Hollis Watkins v. Kirk Fordice, Governor of the State of Mississippi

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:

Black citizens of Mississippi (Appellants) complain on appeal that the three-judge district court erred in calculating the amount of attorneys’ fees it awarded them under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. § 1973¿(e), and the Civil Rights Attorneys’ Fees Award Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C.A. § 1988 (West Supp.1993). Mississippi officials 1 (the State) argue on cross-appeal that Appellants did not prevail in the underlying action and, thus, should not recover attorneys’ fees. We vacate and remand. 2

I. BACKGROUND

Using 1990 census data, Mississippi in 1991 redistricted both…