Case: United States v. Covington County School District

2:66-cv-02148 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Filed Date: Dec. 12, 1966

Closed Date: March 3, 2021

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This was a school desegregation case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi; it started December 12, 1966 and ended in 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) brought this suit to integrate schools in Covington County, Mississippi, arguing successfully that Covington County’s freedom of choice plan perpetuated a segregated school system. In its early years, this matter was consolidated with twenty-four other school desegregation cases in the Southern District of …

This was a school desegregation case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi; it started December 12, 1966 and ended in 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) brought this suit to integrate schools in Covington County, Mississippi, arguing successfully that Covington County’s freedom of choice plan perpetuated a segregated school system.

In its early years, this matter was consolidated with twenty-four other school desegregation cases in the Southern District of Mississippi under the name United States v. Hinds County School Board. For more details see this special case entry in the Clearinghouse. All the district judges in the Southern District of Mississippi heard the issue together, and in an unavailable en banc district court opinion, allowed the continued use of a freedom of choice plan to desegregate the schools. The Fifth Circuit heard an appeal and reversed the district court’s decision, holding that freedom of choice plans were insufficient to desegregate the schools and establish a unitary system. The Fifth Circuit reasoned that since all of the school districts, including Covington County, continued to operate all-black schools, the freedom of choice plans had to be abandoned and other methods, like zoning and pairing, would be used to desegregate schools instead. The Fifth Circuit remanded the case to the district court and ordered the school districts to submit new desegregation plans to the district court. Additionally, the Fifth Circuit requested that the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) assist the school districts as they prepared their new desegregation plans. U.S. v. Hinds County School District, 417 F.2d 852 (5th Cir. 1969) (per curiam).

Covington County was desegregated under a November 7, 1969 court order. Students were assigned to schools to eliminate a segregated, dual system. All Covington County schools were integrated with the exception of the Hopewell Attendance Center. According to a later opinion, the Hopewell Attendance Center was “located near one corner of rural Covington County, and in an area having a predominantly black population.” The Fifth Circuit originally anticipated that there would be approximately twenty-five white students who would attend school at Hopewell; however, that approximation never materialized. Several years later, in 1975, the case returned to the Fifth Circuit after the DOJ “discovered that the white students in the Hopewell area had not been attending the Hopewell Attendance Center.” The Fifth Circuit ordered Covington County to modify its school assignment system so that all students, black and white, who lived in the Hopewell area were required to attend the Hopewell Attendance Center. U.S. v. Hinds County School District, 516 F.2d 974 (5th Cir. 1975).

The case was inactive until the 2000s. In 2003, the DOJ filed a motion for further relief. After multiple extensions time, on July 5, 2005, District Judge Keith Starrett approved a joint consent decree. This consent decree required that Covington County not use race to determine eligibility for extracurricular activities and forced Covington County to develop nondiscriminatory policies for its extracurricular activities.

Another consent decree was entered as part of a case settlement on March 8, 2006. There were five main provisions in this consent decree. First, students in the Hopewell attendance zone were assigned to the Hopewell Attendance Center for kindergarten through sixth grades and to Seminary Middle School and Seminary High School (formerly majority white schools) for seventh through twelfth grades. Second, Covington County agreed to publicize its majority-to-minority transfer program, which allowed students within Covington County to transfer from a school where they were in a majority racial group to a school where they were in the minority racial group. Third, Covington County committed to establishing a compensatory enrichment program at the Hopewell Attendance Center to “enhance education” at the school and to “encourage white students who reside in other attendance zones” to transfer to Hopewell. Fourth, Covington County had to conduct a facilities organization study and agreed to submit all plans to build or renovate the Seminary schools to the United States. Fifth, Covington County had to analyze all bus routes for the Hopewell Attendance Center to reduce the amount of time students spent on busses as much as possible.

The new decree was not entirely without controversy. Unsatisfied with the plan implemented under the decree, a group of African-American students and parents sought to intervene three months after the decree was entered, on June, 19, 2006. The district court denied their motion on the basis that it was untimely, and the Fifth Circuit affirmed. 499 F.3d 464.

On October 7, 2020, Covington County filed a motion for declaration of unitary status. Unfortunately, the record does not contain the United States's response to make clear how the motion was litigated, but on March 3, 2021, Judge Keith Starrett concluded that Covington County schools had achieved full unitary status, dissolving the injunctions entered against it and terminating the court's jurisdiction. This case is now closed.

Available Opinions

United States v. Hinds Cty. Sch. Bd., 417 F.2d 852 (5th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 1032.

United States v. Hinds Cty. Sch. Bd., 423 F.2d 1264 (5th Cir. 1969).

United States v. Hinds Cty. Sch. Bd., 516 F.2d 974 (5th Cir. 1975).

United States v. Covington Cty. Sch. Dist., 499 F.3d 464 (5th Cir. 2007).

Summary Authors

Amelia Huckins (4/2/2017)

Sean Drohan (7/21/2021)

Related Cases

U.S. v. Hinds County School District, Southern District of Mississippi (1976)

30 Related School Desegregation Cases in the Southern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi (1966)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7485795/parties/united-states-v-covington-county-school-district/


Judge(s)

Bell, Griffin Boyette (Georgia)

Benavides, Fortunato Pedro (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Acosta, R. Alexander (District of Columbia)

Berman, Amy I. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Adams, Holmes S. (Mississippi)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:66-cv-02148

Docket

July 15, 2010

July 15, 2010

Docket

2:66-cv-02148

3:67-cv-04075

Docket

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

Docket

28030

28042

Order and Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

July 21, 1975

July 21, 1975

Order/Opinion

516 F.2d 516

2:66-cv-02148

United States' Motion for Further Relief

Nov. 24, 2003

Nov. 24, 2003

Pleading / Motion / Brief

2:66-cv-02148

Consent Decree

July 5, 2005

July 5, 2005

Order/Opinion

2:66-cv-02148

Consent Decree

March 8, 2006

March 8, 2006

Order/Opinion

06-60799

Order and Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Sept. 5, 2007

Sept. 5, 2007

Order/Opinion

499 F.3d 499

6

2:66-cv-02148

Covington County School Districts 2012 report

US v. The Covington County School District

Oct. 15, 2012

Oct. 15, 2012

Pleading / Motion / Brief
7

2:66-cv-02148

Covington County School District's 2013 Report to Court

US v. The Covington County School District

April 22, 2013

April 22, 2013

Pleading / Motion / Brief
29

2:66-cv-02148

United States Response to Covington County School District's Motion for Declaration of Unitary Status

United States of America v. Covington County Schoolo District

Nov. 2, 2020

Nov. 2, 2020

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7485795/united-states-v-covington-county-school-district/

Last updated March 17, 2024, 3:17 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

Attached please find scanned copy of original docket sheet. It will be necessary to review this docket sheet for complete information in this case from filing through 7/15/2010. Original docket sheet and case file have been shipped to Archives. (sam) (Entered: 07/29/2010)

July 29, 2010

July 29, 2010

PACER

District Judge Keith Starrett added. (sam)

July 29, 2010

July 29, 2010

PACER
2

STATUS REPORT of October 2010 to Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Enrollment Report, # 2 Exhibit B - Race Enrollment, # 3 Exhibit C - Full-Time Teachers by Race, # 4 Exhibit D - Part-Time Teachers by Race, # 5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff by Race, # 6 Exhibit F - Race/Title of Administrators, # 7 Exhibit G - Facilities Report)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/15/2010)

Oct. 15, 2010

Oct. 15, 2010

PACER
3

STATUS REPORT to Court - July 2011 by Covington County School District (Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/20/2011)

July 20, 2011

July 20, 2011

PACER

DOCKET ANNOTATION as to Document #3: Identification of filer is incomplete. L.U.Civ.R. Rule 11.(a) states that all filed, signed documents must contain counsel's name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and counsel's bar membership identification number. Attorney is advised to comply with this requirement in future filings. (DM)

July 20, 2011

July 20, 2011

PACER
4

STATUS REPORT of October 2011 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - School Enrollment Data, # 2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment Data, # 3 Exhibit C - Chart of Teachers, # 4 Exhibit D - Chart of Part-Time Teachers, # 5 Exhibit E - Non-Certified Staff, # 6 Exhibit F - Administrators, # 7 Exhibit G - Renovations/Repairs)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/07/2011)

Oct. 7, 2011

Oct. 7, 2011

PACER
5

STATUS REPORT of July 2012 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - M-to-M Memo, # 2 Exhibit B - Letter re M-to-M, # 3 Exhibit C - Statements, # 4 Exhibit D - Proof of Publication, # 5 Exhibit E - Pages from Handbook)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/16/2012)

July 16, 2012

July 16, 2012

PACER
6

STATUS REPORT for October 2012 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Enrollment by Grade/Race, # 2 Exhibit B - Enrollment by Race, # 3 Exhibit C - Full Time Teachers by Race, # 4 Exhibit D - Part-Time Teachers by Race, # 5 Exhibit E - Non-Cert Staff by Race, # 6 Exhibit F - Administrators by Race/Title, # 7 Exhibit G - Renovations/Repairs)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/15/2012)

Oct. 15, 2012

Oct. 15, 2012

Clearinghouse

DOCKET ANNOTATION as to 6 : Identification of filer is incomplete; email address is missing. L.U.Civ.R. Rule 11.(a) states that all filed, signed documents must contain counsel's name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and counsel's bar membership identification number. Attorney is advised to comply with this requirement in future filings. (LDR)

Oct. 16, 2012

Oct. 16, 2012

PACER
7

STATUS REPORT for July 2013 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Memo, # 2 Exhibit B - M to M statements, # 3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/22/2013)

July 22, 2013

July 22, 2013

Clearinghouse
8

STATUS REPORT of October 2013 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Enrollment, # 2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment, # 3 Exhibit C - Teachers, # 4 Exhibit D - Non-Certified Staff, # 5 Exhibit E - Administrators, # 6 Exhibit F - Renovations)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/10/2013)

Oct. 10, 2013

Oct. 10, 2013

PACER
9

NOTICE July 2014 Report to Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Memo from Supt to principals re M-to-M policy, # 2 Exhibit Statements from principals, # 3 Exhibit Proof of publication, # 4 Exhibit M-to-M policy in handbook)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/22/2014)

July 22, 2014

July 22, 2014

PACER
10

STATUS REPORT of October 2014 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit School Enrollment Report, # 2 Exhibit Classroom Enrollment, # 3 Exhibit Classroo Enrollment by Race, # 4 Exhibit List of Present Construction Projects)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/10/2014)

Oct. 10, 2014

Oct. 10, 2014

PACER
11

STATUS REPORT July 2015 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Memo from Supt. to Principals, # 2 Exhibit B - Principal Statements, # 3 Exhibit C - Copy of Proof of Publication, # 4 Exhibit D - Copy of Policy in Handbook)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/20/2015)

July 20, 2015

July 20, 2015

PACER
12

STATUS REPORT October 2015 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Student Enrollment Breakdown, # 2 Exhibit Classroom Enrollment by Race, # 3 Exhibit Breakdown of Teachers and Staff, # 4 Exhibit Breakdown of Administrators)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/08/2015)

Oct. 8, 2015

Oct. 8, 2015

PACER

DOCKET ANNOTATION as to 12 : Exhibit Numbers/Letters Missing from the description listing. L.U.Civ.R. 7(b)(2) requires that all supporting exhibits to a document be denominated by an exhibit letter or number and a meaningful description. Attorney is advised to follow this rule in future filings. (LDR)

Oct. 9, 2015

Oct. 9, 2015

PACER
13

STATUS REPORT July 2016 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Memo from Supt. Crosby, # 2 Exhibit B - Statemes from Principals, # 3 Exhibit C - Copy of Proof of Publication, # 4 Exhibit D - MtoM Policy in Handbook)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/25/2016)

July 25, 2016

July 25, 2016

PACER

DOCKET ANNOTATION as to 13 : Attorney is advised to include the judge's initials of "KS" on future filed pleadings. (CS)

July 25, 2016

July 25, 2016

PACER
14

NOTICE of Filing of October 2016 Report to Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Enrollment for Each School in District, # 2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment by Race, # 3 Exhibit C - Teachers & Staff by Race, # 4 Exhibit D - Administrators, # 5 Exhibit E - Construction Projects)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/06/2016)

Oct. 6, 2016

Oct. 6, 2016

PACER
15

NOTICE of Appearance by John Simeon Hooks on behalf of Covington County School District (Hooks, John) (Entered: 01/26/2017)

Jan. 26, 2017

Jan. 26, 2017

PACER
16

STATUS REPORT July 2017 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Memo from Supt., # 2 Exhibit B - Principal Statements, # 3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication, # 4 Exhibit D - M-to-M Policy in Handbook)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 07/12/2017)

July 12, 2017

July 12, 2017

PACER
17

STATUS REPORT October 2017 by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Enrollment by race and gender, # 2 Exhibit B - Classroom enrollment by race and gender, # 3 Exhibit C - Faculty and staff by race, # 4 Exhibit D - Administrator by race)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/17/2017)

Oct. 17, 2017

Oct. 17, 2017

PACER
18

NOTICE of July, 2018 Report to the Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Memo and parent letter Re: Majority to Minority Transfers, # 2 Exhibit B - Principals' statements certifying M-to-M memo sent to parents, # 3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication of M-to-M policy, # 4 Exhibit D - Copy of M-to-M policy)(Hooks, John) (Entered: 07/20/2018)

1 Exhibit A - Memo and parent letter Re: Majority to Minority Transfers

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2 Exhibit B - Principals' statements certifying M-to-M memo sent to parents

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3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication of M-to-M policy

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4 Exhibit D - Copy of M-to-M policy

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July 20, 2018

July 20, 2018

PACER
19

NOTICE of October, 2018 Report to the Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Student Enrollment by Race, Grade, School, # 2 Exhibit B - Student Enrollment by Classroom, # 3 Exhibit C - Full-time Teachers, # 4 Exhibit D - Part-time Teachers, # 5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff, # 6 Exhibit F - Administrators, # 7 Exhibit G - Description of Present or Proposed Construction)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/15/2018)

1 Exhibit A - Student Enrollment by Race, Grade, School

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2 Exhibit B - Student Enrollment by Classroom

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3 Exhibit C - Full-time Teachers

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4 Exhibit D - Part-time Teachers

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5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff

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6 Exhibit F - Administrators

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7 Exhibit G - Description of Present or Proposed Construction

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Oct. 15, 2018

Oct. 15, 2018

PACER
20

NOTICE of July 2019 Report to the Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A- M-to-M Memo from Superintendent, # 2 Exhibit B - Principals' Certifications, # 3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication, # 4 Exhibit D - M-to-M Policy)(Hooks, John) (Entered: 07/15/2019)

1 Exhibit A- M-to-M Memo from Superintendent

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2 Exhibit B - Principals' Certifications

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3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication

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4 Exhibit D - M-to-M Policy

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July 15, 2019

July 15, 2019

PACER
21

NOTICE of October, 2019 Report to the Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Student Enrollment by Race, # 2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment, # 3 Exhibit C - Full-time Teachers by Race, # 4 Exhibit D - Part-time Teachers by Race, # 5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff by Race and Position, # 6 Exhibit F - Administrators by Race and Title)(Adams, Holmes) (Entered: 10/17/2019)

1 Exhibit A - Student Enrollment by Race

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2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment

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3 Exhibit C - Full-time Teachers by Race

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4 Exhibit D - Part-time Teachers by Race

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5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff by Race and Position

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6 Exhibit F - Administrators by Race and Title

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Oct. 17, 2019

Oct. 17, 2019

PACER
22

NOTICE of July 2020 Report to the Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Parent Letter re: M-to-M, # 2 Exhibit B - Principals' Certifications, # 3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication, # 4 Exhibit D - M-to-M Policy)(Hooks, John) (Entered: 07/20/2020)

1 Exhibit A - Parent Letter re: M-to-M

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2 Exhibit B - Principals' Certifications

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3 Exhibit C - Proof of Publication

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4 Exhibit D - M-to-M Policy

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July 20, 2020

July 20, 2020

PACER
23

NOTICE of October, 2020 Report to the Court by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Enrollment by School, Grade and Race, # 2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment, # 3 Exhibit C - Full-time Teachers by Race, # 4 Exhibit D - Part-time Teachers by Race, # 5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff by Race and Position, # 6 Exhibit F - Administrators by Race and Title)(Hooks, John) (Entered: 10/08/2020)

1 Exhibit A - Enrollment by School, Grade and Race

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2 Exhibit B - Classroom Enrollment

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3 Exhibit C - Full-time Teachers by Race

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4 Exhibit D - Part-time Teachers by Race

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5 Exhibit E - Non-certified Staff by Race and Position

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6 Exhibit F - Administrators by Race and Title

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Oct. 8, 2020

Oct. 8, 2020

PACER
24

NOTICE of Appearance by James A. Eichner-Federal Gov on behalf of USA (Eichner-Federal Gov, James) (Entered: 10/13/2020)

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

PACER
25

MOTION for Declaration of Unitary Status by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - 11.7.69 Order and Plan, # 2 Exhibit 2 - 7.21.75 Order, # 3 Exhibit 3 - 2005 Consent Decree, # 4 Exhibit 4 - 2006 Consent Decree, # 5 Exhibit 5 - 2009 Supplemental Consent Order, # 6 Exhibit 6 - 2006 Transportation Revisions, # 7 Exhibit 7 - Facilities Corrective Action Plan, # 8 Exhibit 8 - 2005 Extracurricular Policy Revisions, # 9 Exhibit 9 - Extracurricular Rosters by School, # 10 Exhibit 10 - Court Reports 2018-19 through 2020-21)(Hooks, John) (Entered: 10/27/2020)

1 Exhibit 1 - 11.7.69 Order and Plan

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2 Exhibit 2 - 7.21.75 Order

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3 Exhibit 3 - 2005 Consent Decree

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4 Exhibit 4 - 2006 Consent Decree

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5 Exhibit 5 - 2009 Supplemental Consent Order

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6 Exhibit 6 - 2006 Transportation Revisions

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7 Exhibit 7 - Facilities Corrective Action Plan

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8 Exhibit 8 - 2005 Extracurricular Policy Revisions

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9 Exhibit 9 - Extracurricular Rosters by School

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10 Exhibit 10 - Court Reports 2018-19 through 2020-21

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Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

RECAP
26

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT re 25 MOTION for Declaration of Unitary Status filed by Covington County School District (Hooks, John) (Entered: 10/27/2020)

Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

PACER
27

ATTACHMENT of Exhibit 10 - October 2020 Report re 25 MOTION for Declaration of Unitary Status Corrected Exhibit 10 by Covington County School District (Hooks, John) (Entered: 10/27/2020)

Oct. 27, 2020

Oct. 27, 2020

PACER

Set Hearings: Telephone Conference set for 10/28/2020, 11:30 AM before District Judge Keith Starrett. Parties are instructed to dial 877-336-1828 and enter passcode 940-8529 to join the call. (dtj)

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER

DOCKET ANNOTATION as to 25, 27 : Division name incorrect. Attorney is directed to use "Eastern Division" and to include the judge assignment of "KS" on future filed pleadings. In the future when using previously filed documents, delete the header which shows the case number, document number and filing date before refiling. This will enable the new heading to be clearly visible. Please check the pdf document for errors before filing. It is not necessary to refile. (CS)

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER

Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Keith Starrett: Telephone Conference held on 10/28/2020. Participating for the Government, Mitzi D. Paige and Jim Eichner, and on behalf of the Defense, John Hooks and Jamie Dole (Paralegal). (dtj)

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER
28

NOTICE of Appearance by Mitzi Dease Paige-Federal Gov on behalf of USA (Paige-Federal Gov, Mitzi) (Entered: 10/28/2020)

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER

Docket Annotation

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER

Telephone Conference

Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020

PACER
29

RESPONSE to Motion re 25 MOTION for Declaration of Unitary Status filed by USA (Eichner-Federal Gov, James) (Entered: 11/02/2020)

Nov. 2, 2020

Nov. 2, 2020

Clearinghouse
30

AGREED ORDER, the Court authorizes publication of the Notice of Motion for Declaration of Unitary Status. The Covington County School District is directed to publish the Notice of Motion for Declaration of Unitary Status and the accompanying written comment/objection form. Counsel for the parties will file any written comment / objections forms received by mail or email with the Clerk of Court via the ECF System. Signed by District Judge Keith Starrett on 12/14/20. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A-Notice of Motion for Declaration of Unitary Status, # 2 Exhibit B-Objection or Comment Form) (CS) (Entered: 12/14/2020)

1 Exhibit A-Notice of Motion for Declaration of Unitary Status

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2 Exhibit B-Objection or Comment Form

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Dec. 14, 2020

Dec. 14, 2020

PACER
31

NOTICE of Proof of Publication by Covington County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Proofs of Publication)(Hooks, John) (Entered: 01/26/2021)

1 Exhibit 1 - Proofs of Publication

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Jan. 26, 2021

Jan. 26, 2021

PACER
32

NOTICE of Ripeness for Decision by Covington County School District re 25 MOTION for Declaration of Unitary Status (Hooks, John) (Entered: 02/24/2021)

Feb. 24, 2021

Feb. 24, 2021

PACER
33

ORDER, Defendant Covington County School District is declared fully unitary, the injunction entered as to the Covington County School District is hereby dissolved, and this case is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by District Judge Keith Starrett on 3/3/2021. (LDR) (Entered: 03/03/2021)

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Mississippi

Case Type(s):

School Desegregation

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 12, 1966

Closing Date: March 3, 2021

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The United States Department of Justice.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Covington County School District (Collins, Covington), School District

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Elementary/Secondary School

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1969 - 2021

Content of Injunction:

Busing

Student assignment

Discrimination Prohibition

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Reporting

Monitoring

Issues

General:

Buildings

Education

Language access/needs

Racial segregation

School/University Facilities

School/University policies

Transportation

Discrimination-area:

Zoning

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black

Type of Facility:

Government-run