Filed Date: July 17, 1970
Closed Date: Aug. 5, 2025
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This was a lawsuit challenging the operation of a dual school system based on race in Hendry County, Florida. Originally filed on July 17, 1970, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, proceedings in the case included a preliminary order, in 1970, requiring conversion from a dual to a unitary school system, a permanent injunction, issued in 1975, prohibiting operation of a dual school system and requiring the district to take certain actions to prevent segregation and to ensure non-discrimination in student assignment, staffing, transportation, school construction and site selection, inter-district transfers, and other programs. The court retained jurisdiction to enforce the 1975 injunction.
In 2017, the court granted the parties’ joint motion seeking declaration of partial unitary status, related to student assignment between schools, transportation, facilities, and extracurricular activities, and entered an order directing the district to comply with the parties' stipulation. In 2021, the court did the same as to faculty and staff recruiting. On July 23, 2025, the parties stipulated to dismissal of the action with prejudice, agreeing that the district was unitary with respect to the remaining areas of compliance -- within-school segregation related to student discipline -- and that it had implemented the provisions of the 2021 stipulation and demonstrated full and good faith compliance for a reasonable period.
On August 5, 2025, the court closed the case, dismissing it with prejudice.
Summary Authors
Jack Moore (11/13/2025)
United States of America v. State of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi (1970)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5736015/parties/united-states-v-hendry-county-school-district/
Moreno, Federico A. (Florida)
AUSA, Noticing Non (Florida)
Feaman, Peter Marshall (Florida)
Hamilton, Andrea E. (Florida)
Harrell-James, Veronica Vanessa (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5736015/united-states-v-hendry-county-school-district/
Last updated Nov. 19, 2025, 8:32 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government
Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 17, 1970
Closing Date: Aug. 5, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States of America
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
Hendry County School District (Hendry), School District
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title IV, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000c et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Southern District of Florida 1:70-cv-01069
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 74-02400
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Order Duration: 1975 - 2025
Issues
General/Misc.: