Today in Supreme Court History: August 13

Oden v. Brittain, 396 U.S. 1210 (decided August 13, 1969): Black denies motion to stay election of newly constituted local government in Anniston, Alabama; election is only three weeks away, and the change from five members elected at large to three did not have to be pre-cleared by the U.S. Attorney General under (the now illusory) §5 of the Voting Rights Act (Anniston is only a few miles from where Black grew up)

White v. Florida, 458 U.S. 1301 (decided August 13, 1982): Powell denies motion for stay of execution because no execution date set, nor is it imminent, and motion doesn’t specify reasons why certiorari will be requested

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Public Utilities Commission of California, 443 U.S. 1301 (decided August 13, 1979): Rehnquist refuses to continue stay of CPUC order requiring phone company to refund customers and lower rates; phone co. was actually arguing a tax issue for which the Court had previously denied cert