Smith v. Allwright

Lonnie E. Smith, an African American resident of Harris County, Texas, appeared before election judge S. S. Allwright on 27 July 1940 to cast a ballot in the Democratic Party primary to nominate candidates for the upcoming national senatorial, congressional, and presidential campaigns. Allwright refused Smith's request for a ballot on the basis of his race. Smith left the election office without further comment, but immediately filed a damage suit for $5,000 against Allwright and the Democratic Party in the district court. The district court dismissed Smith's suit and the case proceeded to the court of appeals, which confirmed the district court's decision on the basis of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Grovey v. Townsend. The Supreme Court took up the case on certiorari (an order calling up records and proceedings for review), given apparent discrepancies between its decisions in Grovey and Classic, and heard arguments on 12 January 1944.