Clearinghouse coding complete
On December 4th, 1969 and January 2, 1970, the Judge Dan M. Russell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi entered two orders adopting desegregation plans for two juvenile reform schools. These orders desegregated two juvenile reform schools: Oakley Training School, which housed Black students, and Columbia Training School, which housed white students. The desegregation plan prohibited the assignment of children to the training school based on race. Further, the plan stated that boys of any race aged 15 and older shall go to Oakley Training School, while girls and boys 15 and younger shall go to Columbia Training School.
The appellants moved for summary reversal, arguing that the plan was deficient for four reasons:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the plan and part and reversed the plan in part. The court rejected the assertion that the plan was deficient for failing to require the transfer of children already assigned to a school, finding that it does not make sense to move the children given that most will graduate by the end of the year. Further, the court stated that they were concerned that transferring children may interfere with the rehabilitation process.
However, the court agreed that the plan was insufficient for failing to require reporting, faculty integration, and the integration of all facilities and activities. Thus, the court remanded the case to the District Court with specific instructions. The instructions required the District Court to require full integration of classrooms, dorms, athletics, and all activities and services; full integration of faculty, without waiting for vacancies to naturally open up; and periodic reports to the court until the court is satisfied that the schools are fully integrated. 426 F.2d 269 (1970).
Summary Authors
Clara Swetnam-Burland (4/4/2026)
Clark, Charles (Mississippi)
Ingraham, Joe McDonald (Texas)
Thornberry, William Homer (Texas)
Last updated March 15, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Civil Rights Division Archival Collection
Key Dates
Closing Date: 1970
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A youth resident of the training school
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Unknown
Class Action Outcome: Unknown
Defendants
State
Oakley Training School
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title IV, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000c et seq.
Other Dockets:
Southern District of Mississippi 04117
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 70-29347
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Case Summary of Montgomery v. Oakley Training School, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/14852/ (last updated 4/4/2026).