Case: Barrow v. Washington City Board of Education

6:64-cv-00561 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Filed Date: Sept. 11, 1964

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Case Summary

On September 11, 1964, the plaintiffs filed this school desegregation case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs, African-American school children by and through their parents, sued the defendant Washington City Board of Education to enjoin the operation of a segregated school system. They were represented by, among others, Jack Greenberg and Derrick A. Bell (for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund).On January 27, 1965, the district court (Judge John Lar…

On September 11, 1964, the plaintiffs filed this school desegregation case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs, African-American school children by and through their parents, sued the defendant Washington City Board of Education to enjoin the operation of a segregated school system. They were represented by, among others, Jack Greenberg and Derrick A. Bell (for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund).

On January 27, 1965, the district court (Judge John Larkins) entered a consent decree. By 1966 the plaintiffs requested additional relief. On September 6, 1967, the district court issued an opinion requiring the Board to take further steps to desegregate for the 1967-68 school year, including on student and faculty assignment and on reporting integration statistics. Through early 1968, the defendant Board submitted various amendments to its desegregation plan. On July 24, 1968, Judge Larkins issued an order declaring that the school system had achieved unitary status. The case was ultimately dismissed on January 18, 1972.

Summary Authors

Greg Margolis (2/28/2017)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Bell, Derrick A. Jr. (North Carolina)

Chambers, J. LeVonne (New York)

Greenberg, Jack (North Carolina)

Attorney for Defendant

Allsbrook, Julian R. (North Carolina)

James, John (North Carolina)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

6:64-cv-00561

Docket

Barrow v. The Washington City Board of Education

Jan. 18, 1972

Jan. 18, 1972

Docket

Docket

Last updated March 6, 2024, 3:01 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: North Carolina

Case Type(s):

School Desegregation

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 11, 1964

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

African-American minor school children by and through their parents

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Washington City, School District

Defendant Type(s):

Elementary/Secondary School

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

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: 1965 - 1968

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Student assignment

Discrimination Prohibition

Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention

Reporting

Issues

General:

Education

Racial segregation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black

Type of Facility:

Government-run