Filed Date: Aug. 8, 1965
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On August 8, 1965, the plaintiffs, African-American school children by and through their parents, brought this class action school desegregation case in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. They sued the defendant Claiborne Parish School Board to enjoin the operation of a de jure segregated school system, with Judge Ben Dawkins presiding.
Initially, the Board pursued a freedom-of-choice approach to desegregation. The Fifth Circuit at first approved the use of freedom of choice plans in United States v. Jefferson. 372 F.2d 836 (5th Cir. Dec. 29, 1966). And even in the wake of Green v. County School Board of New Kent County, 391 U.S. 430 (1968), in which the Supreme Court expressed frustration at the inadequacy of freedom of choice plans, the Western District continued to accept them as a viable option. See Adams v. Matthews, 401 F.2d 181 (5th Cir. Aug. 20, 1968); Conley v. Lake Charles School Board, 293 F.Supp. 84, 87 (W.D. La. Nov. 14, 1968) (including Claiborne Parish). Ultimately, however, in Hall v. St. Helena Parish, a consolidated appeal of cases from across Circuit, the Fifth Circuit ordered the district courts to reverse course and solicit alternative plans from the various defendant school boards. 417 F.2d 801 (5th Cir. May 28, 1969) (including Claiborne Parish).
The district court (Judge Ben Dawkins) subsequently approved the Board's desegregation plan -- only to have it reversed by the Fifth Circuit, which cited its woeful inadequacy. Banks v. Claiborne, 425 F.2d 1040 (5th Cir. Apr. 15, 1970). The Fifth Circuit ordered the Board to implement the more rigorous plan that had been proposed by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
The back and forth continued in the early 1970s, with the district court working with the parties on various desegregation plans and modifications.
From the 1980s onward, the Board filed its annual progress reports without interference from the district court.
On July 3, 2014, the district court (Judge Maurice Hicks) declared the school district unitary, ending nearly 50 years of court supervision.
Available Opinions
Adams v. Matthews, 403 F.2d 181 (5th Cir. Aug. 20, 1968) (consolidated appeals, directing district courts, including in the Claiborne case, to determine whether desegregation plan was adequate)
Conley v. Lake Charles School Bard, 293 F.Supp. 84 (W.D. La. Nov. 14, 1968) (en banc) (approving freedom-of-choice plans in Western District cases as workable and realistic)
Hall v. St. Helena Parish School Board, 417 F.2d 801 (5th Cir. May 28, 1969) (consolidated appeals, including of Claiborne decision, concluding freedom-of-choice plans to be constitutionally inadequate)
Conley v. Lake Charles School Bard, 303 F.Supp. 394 (W.D. La. June 5, 1969) (consolidated case, including Claiborne, ordering the Board to submit a new desegregation plan)
Banks v. Claiborne Parish School Board, 425 F2d 1040 (5th Cir. Apr. 15, 1970)
Banks v. Claiborne Parish School Board, 431 F.2d 951 (5th Cir. Aug. 21, 1970) (per curiam)
Summary Authors
Greg Margolis (2/26/2017)
Brown, John Robert (Louisiana)
Cabot, Ted (Florida)
Dawkins, Benjamin Cornwell Jr. (Louisiana)
Dyer, David William (Georgia)
Clay, Kelly N. (Louisiana)
Brown, John Robert (Louisiana)
Cabot, Ted (Florida)
Dawkins, Benjamin Cornwell Jr. (Louisiana)
Dyer, David William (Georgia)
Gewin, Walter Pettus (Alabama)
Godbold, John Cooper (Louisiana)
Goldberg, Irving Loeb (Louisiana)
Hicks, S. Maurice Jr. (Louisiana)
Hornsby, Mark L. (Louisiana)
Hunter, Edwin Ford Jr. (Louisiana)
Putnam, Richard Johnson (Louisiana)
Wisdom, John Minor (Louisiana)
Last updated March 2, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Louisiana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 8, 1965
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
African-American school children by and through their parents; United States as intervenor
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Claiborne Parish , School District
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1965 - 2014
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Race:
Type of Facility: