Filed Date: Nov. 12, 1963
Closed Date: March 5, 1971
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Black inmates of the Florida state reform schools filed a class-action lawsuit against the Board of Commissioners of the schools in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in November of 1963. Plaintiffs were seeking to enjoin racial segregation in the schools and to have the practice declared unconstitutional.
The plaintiffs were juveniles who were detained in the segregated system after being arrested and charged with trespass for sitting in a segregated restaurant. Plaintiffs were represented by private attorneys.
The case was subsequently transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, were the official residences of the Board and other named defendants were located. The district court dismissed the case, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing because they were no longer inmates.
On February 15, 1966, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Judge Wisdom) reversed the decision of the district court, holding that the plaintiffs' probationary status gave them standing. Singleton v. Board of Comm'rs, 356 F.2d 771 (5th Cir. 1966). The Court of Appeals remanded the case.
On October 5, 1966, the district court (Judge G. Harrold Carswell) ordered the Board of Commissioners to present a desegregation plan to the court by December 5, 1966. The Board presented a detailed plan on that date. The plan was approved and on September 6, 1967, the district court (Judge Carswell) ordered the Board to file progress reports with the court. In October of 1969, the Board moved for final judgment holding that it had complied with the September 1967 order and that there were no further judiciable issues present in the case. The district court took the motion under advisement pending further progress reports. On March 5, 1971, the district court (Judge David L. Middlebrooks) dismissed the case.
Summary Authors
Angela Heverling (6/6/2007)
Carswell, George Harrold (Florida)
Clark, Leroy D. (New York)
Drew, Sylvia (New York)
Ervin, Richard W. (Florida)
Faircloth, Earl (Florida)
Last updated March 31, 2024, 3:07 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Florida
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 12, 1963
Closing Date: March 5, 1971
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Black inmates of the Florida state reform schools.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Board of Commissioners of State Institutions, State
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Order Duration: 1967 - 1971
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis: