Rogers v. Lodge

The federal district court found for Rogers. It held that, while the state had not acted in an overtly discriminatory manner in instituting the at-large voting system, the system was being maintained for purposes of violating the constitutional rights of African American voters. The court's examination of voting patterns in Burke County also turned up evidence of bloc voting on racial lines. In this way, the county had effectively barred its African American residents from participating fully in the electoral process. The district court ordered Burke County to replace its at-large system with district voting to ensure full participation of all minority groups.

The case then proceeded to the court of appeals, which affirmed the district court's decision. It reviewed the district court's findings, and agreed that there was overwhelming evidence of discriminatory practices in Burke County. After determining its jurisdiction in the dispute, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the case.