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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Lena Robinson v. Diamond Housing Corporation, 463 F.2d 853 (1972)

Citation
Lena Robinson v. Diamond Housing Corporation, 463 F.2d 853 (1972)
Parent Document
Lena Robinson v. Diamond Housing Corporation, 463 F.2d 853 (1972)
Jurisdiction
DC (municipal)
Effective Date
1972-04-03

Other Sections in This Document (189)

Full Text

1,014 chars
We do not pretend that allowing Mrs. Robinson to assert an Edwards defense *871will solve the housing crisis in the District of Columbia. That crisis is the product of a constellation of social and economic forces over which no court— and indeed perhaps no legislature — can exercise full control. But while the judicial process is not a deus ex machina which can magically solve problems where the legislature and the executive have failed, neither is it a mere game of wits to be played without regard for the well-being of the helpless spectators. We cannot expect .judges to solve the housing dilemma, but at least they should avoid affirmative action which makes it worse. The District’s legislative body has formulated a comprehensive plan, including criminal sanctions, public inspections, subsidies and rent withholding, to tackle our housing difficulties. In the end, that plan may not work. But if it fails, at least the failure should be caused by inherent weaknesses rather than by judicial subversion.