Case: Singleton v. Board of Commissioners

63-cv-00963 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: Nov. 12, 1963

Closed Date: March 5, 1971

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Case Summary

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 restaura…

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)

People


Judge(s)

Carswell, George Harrold (Florida)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Clark, Leroy D. (New York)

Drew, Sylvia (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Ervin, Richard W. (Florida)

Faircloth, Earl (Florida)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

63-cv-00963

Docket [NON-PACER]

Singleton, et al. v. Board of Commissioners

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Aug. 24, 1964

Aug. 24, 1964

Docket

63-cv-00963

Complaint

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Nov. 12, 1963

Nov. 12, 1963

Complaint

63-00243

Motion to Transfer Venue

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Nov. 29, 1963

Nov. 29, 1963

Pleading / Motion / Brief

63-00243

Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Dec. 23, 1963

Dec. 23, 1963

Pleading / Motion / Brief

63-00243

Order Transferring Cause to Northern District of Florida

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Jan. 8, 1964

Jan. 8, 1964

Order/Opinion

63-cv-00963

Petition for Release of Juveniles Willie Carl Singleton, Samuel White, Audrey Nell Edwards and Joann Anderson

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

Jan. 14, 1964

Jan. 14, 1964

Pleading / Motion / Brief

63-cv-00963

Request to Enter Default

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

Feb. 11, 1964

Feb. 11, 1964

Pleading / Motion / Brief

63-cv-00963

Motion to Dismiss

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

Feb. 14, 1964

Feb. 14, 1964

Pleading / Motion / Brief

63-cv-00963

Motion for Default Judgment

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

March 11, 1964

March 11, 1964

Pleading / Motion / Brief

63-cv-00963

Order

Singleton v. Board of Commissioners of State Institutions

April 9, 1964

April 9, 1964

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 25, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Special Collection(s):

Featured Historical Cases

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):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Board of Commissioners of State Institutions, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Confession of Judgment

Order Duration: 1967 - 1971

Issues

General:

Juveniles

Racial segregation

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run