Mr. Dunne, who is in charge of the civil rights division of the Justice Department, found that the proposed election districts were "legally unenforceable."

The provision has been legally unenforceable since 1992 under an injunction that the ruling today has the effect of lifting.

Restitution could provide means of recovery when people bestowed benefits on one another (such as giving money or providing services) according to contracts that would have been legally unenforceable.

But those words of praise have no immediate practical effect, for the plan as a whole is, as Mr. Dunne said, "legally unenforceable."

Among other things, it is considered legally unenforceable in some states, like California, although in New York I have heard it can sometimes be enforced.

The Académie française is the national language-governing academic body whose recommendations, though legally unenforceable, are respected for maintaining standard French.

Now Telenor is refusing to honor the signed agreement, saying it is legally unenforceable.

Most of the measures implemented so far are so-called legally unenforceable regulations.

These are legally unenforceable, except when referenced as mandatory provisions in building codes, but are commonly accepted standards for architects and engineers.

But John R. Dunne, the Assistant Attorney General for civil rights, said Houston's redistricting plan was "legally unenforceable."