Case: Conley v. Lake Charles School Board, Calcasieu Parish School Board

2:64-cv-09981 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Filed Date: 1964

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we continue to research this case.) These twenty-nine school desegregation cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana were consolidated after they were remanded by the Fifth Circuit in Adams v. Mathews. In Adams, the Fifth Circuit ordered the district court to determine if freedom of choice plans were “adequate to convert the dual system to a unitary system in which racial discrimination would be eliminated root and branch.” The dist…

(This summary is temporary, while we continue to research this case.)

These twenty-nine school desegregation cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana were consolidated after they were remanded by the Fifth Circuit in Adams v. Mathews. In Adams, the Fifth Circuit ordered the district court to determine if freedom of choice plans were “adequate to convert the dual system to a unitary system in which racial discrimination would be eliminated root and branch.” The district court held that the freedom of choice plans were adequate to eliminate dual systems (segregated school systems) and foster the creation of a unitary systems (desegregated school systems). Conley v. Lake Charles Sch. Bd., 293 F. Supp. 84 (W.D. La. 1968).

The decision in Conley was then appealed to the Fifth Circuit. These cases were consolidated with other cases from across Louisiana on appeal under the name Hall v. St. Helena Parish School Board. The Fifth Circuit held that freedom of choice plans were inadequate to desegregate the schools and the cases were remanded to the district court. 417 F.2d 801 (5th Cir. 1969). The cases returned to the district court. The district court, sitting en banc, held that each local school system had to consider their unique problems and, working together with the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), had to consider their unique circumstances when creating new desegregation plans. Conley v. Lake Charles Sch. Bd., 303 F. Supp. 394 (W.D. La. 1969). The district court then approved individual school desegregation plans one by one. Some of those plans were appealed, so the Fifth Circuit stepped in to adjust the plans as it saw fit.

The plaintiffs sought additional relief from the district court in 1970 in accordance with the Fifth Circuit decision in Hall. v. St. Helena Parish School Board, 417 F.2d 801 (5th Cir. 1969). The district court ruled that school desegregation plans submitted by HEW had to contain provisions in line with Singleton v. Jackson Municipal Separate School District regarding faculty, staff, transportation, extracurricular activities, facilities, and transfer. 419 F.2d 1211 (5th Cir. 1969). After the district court approved the desegregation plans, the plaintiffs appealed again. The Fifth Circuit adopted adjustments to the HEW plans so that the plans were constitutional.

 

Available Opinions

Conley v. Lake Charles Sch. Bd., 293 F. Supp. 84 (W.D. La. 1968) (per curiam).

Hall v. St. Helena Parish Sch. Bd., 417 F.2d 801 (5th Cir. 1969).

Conley v. Lake Charles Sch. Bd., 303 F. Supp. 394 (W.D. La. 1969) (en banc).

Conley v. Lake Charles Sch. Bd., 314 F. Supp. 1282 (W.D. La. 1970).

Conley v. Lake Charles Sch. Bd., 434 F.2d 35 (5th Cir. 1970).

 

Summary Authors

Amelia Huckins (4/8/2017)

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Jones v. Caddo Parish School Board, Western District of Louisiana (1965)

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Smith v. Concordia Parish School Board, Western District of Louisiana (1965)

United States v. Lincoln Parish School Board, Western District of Louisiana (1966)

United States of America v. Avoyelles Parish School Board, Western District of Louisiana (1967)

Related School Desegregation Cases in the Western District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana (1964)

People


Judge(s)

Jolly, E. Grady (Mississippi)

King, Carolyn Dineen [Randall] (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Greenberg, Jack (New York)

Motley, Constance Baker (New York)

Tureaud, A. P. (Louisiana)

Judge(s)

Jolly, E. Grady (Mississippi)

King, Carolyn Dineen [Randall] (Louisiana)

Wisdom, John Minor (Louisiana)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
2-1

2:64-cv-09981

Collection of Documents {Complaint, Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Memorandum}

Jan. 31, 1964

Jan. 31, 1964

Complaint

2:64-cv-09981

Opinion

Nov. 14, 1968

Nov. 14, 1968

Order/Opinion

293 F.Supp. 293

26450

Opinion

Hall v. St. Helena Parish School Bd.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

May 18, 1969

May 18, 1969

Order/Opinion

417 F.2d 417

2:64-cv-09981

Opinion

June 5, 1969

June 5, 1969

Order/Opinion

303 F.Supp. 303

2:64-cv-09981

Opinion

June 11, 1970

June 11, 1970

Order/Opinion

314 F.Supp. 314

30100

Opinion

Conley v. Lake Charles School Board and Calcasieu Parish School Board

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Aug. 25, 1970

Aug. 25, 1970

Order/Opinion

434 F.2d 434

5-2

2:80-cv-01709

84-00306

Opinion {Denying Appeal}

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Jan. 11, 1985

Jan. 11, 1985

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:23 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

School Desegregation

Key Dates

Filing Date: 1964