In the Northern District of Georgia, Sanders v. Gray was heard by judges Elbert Tuttle, Griffin Bell, and Frank Arthur Hooper.

[1] The Supreme Court granted certiorari in this case despite having refused to hear previous challenges to the Unit System.

The court found that the separation of voters in the same election into different classes was a violation of the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection.

Justice John Marshall Harlan II dissented, suggesting the case be sent back for retrial, which would have investigated the constitutional requirements for legislative districts.

Georgia had the option of modifying the County Unit System to make it more equal, but instead the state decided to move to using the popular vote in primary elections.