
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 15, 1994                   TAG: 9411160062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OPINION ON CONVENTION FEE SOUGHT

The Supreme Court asked the Justice Department on Monday for an opinion on a challenge by three University of Virginia students to a fee charged Republicans attending a state nominating convention. The Republican Party of

Virginia charged delegates attending its June convention a $35 fee; local parties added surcharges of up to $20. The convention nominated Oliver North as its U.S. Senate candidate. He lost to Democratic Sen. Charles Robb in last week's election.

The law students are urging the justices to rule that the fee amounted to a poll tax outlawed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The court asked for the Clinton administration's opinion on the students' appeal of a ruling by a panel of three federal judges in Charlottesville.

The court is not expected to say whether it will review the appeal until it hears from the Justice Department lawyers, which could take months.

by CNB