Jewell B. Raiford v. Preston P. Dillon

GODBOLD, Circuit Judge:

This is a class action in which the plaintiffs, Negro residents of Walthall County, Mississippi, claim that Negroes are systematically excluded from jury service in that county. The District Court, in an opinion reported at 297 F. Supp. 1307 (S.D.Miss.1969) denied in- junctive relief and dismissed the complaint. 1

Prior to 1965 Negroes were totally excluded from the Walthall County jury list. The 1966 and 1967 master jury lists contained, respectively, 10% and 14% black names. This suit was filed in April, 1968. However, in January, 1968 three newly elected members were…