Hall vs. St. Helena Parish School Board
Desegregation of the Louisiana school system is an issue that still touches the state today.
Most people look at the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas as the start of desegregation of the school system. John Hall submitted a case against the St. Helena parish School board in 1952 when the School District ran out of money to fund a the construction of a new school. Future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall represented Hall during this desegregation case.
Hall vs. St. Helena Parish School Board was finally resolved on March 18th, 2018
Since May 20th, 1960 when the Supreme Court entered an order to enjoin the state and St. Helena Parish School board from excluding African American Students from public schools because of race, the U.S. District Court has overseen the school district’s efforts to comply with the court order.
Compliance with the order is demonstrated by reaching an “unitary status”. The school must demonstrate that it eliminated intentional student segregation in student/faculty assignment, transportation, extracurricular activities and facilities.
April 5th, 2016 – St. Helena School district reached unitary status in all areas except student assignment
February 15th, 2018 – All parties of litigation filed a joint motion seeking dismissal of action. Declaration that district had reached unitary status.
March 14th, 2018 – The judge granted the joint motion dissolving all injunctions and dismissing the matter with prejudice.
Listing of Louisiana Desegregation Court Cases
Even today, many of Louisiana’s Cities and School Districts are attempting to achieve “unitary status” from their individual court cases.
The “Parish Desegregation Status Matrix” from Tulane University’s Cowen Institute For Public Education Initiatives shows that only 21 of the 69 districts had achieved unitary status by August 10th, 2010. 8 districts never had a court order. 42 still remained under their 1950-1970s court orders.
The matrix shows the court cases which marked the end of segregation in Louisiana’s school systems today. It also shows the efforts parishes made to reach that “unitary status”.
Unitary Status does not mean that everything is “okay”. Cases have been examined.
Thomas vs. St. Martin School Board
On 2009 – A federal judge reviewed old court filings from St. Martin Parish School board to question whether the 1965 case had been officially closed in 1974.
2012 – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote ruled that the case remains open since the 1974 court order bringing the case to a close was ambiguous.
PARISHES RECENTLY ACHIEVING UNITARY STATUS
Since August 10th, 2010, the date of Parish Desegregation of Matrix, the following parishes have reached unitary status in all areas:
(Current as of April 15th, 2018)
Evangeline Parish – unitary status granted May 16th, 2012 – injunction entered August 5th, 1969
Natchitoches Parish – Granted unitary status September 29th, 2017 – Case is still not closed, court will continue to monitor progress made in case until December 31st, 2020. Initial motion was filed September 17th, 1980 –
St. Helena Parish – March, 14th 2018
-During this time period, school boards parishes have worked to achieve unitary status in some of the categories while working towards the unitary status.
Sources:
http://www.wafb.com/story/37727803/oldest-school-desegregation-case-in-la-finally-resolved
http://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/article_48e2a0ce-b8f3-5e71-9e3b-e7fb6f24767a.html
https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/louisiana/lawdce/6:1965cv11053/64869/392
https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/louisiana/lawdce/1:1980cv01422/98195/149
SD-LA-0012 : Johnson v. Jackson Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0006 : Banks v. Claiborne Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0005 : Andrews v. City of Monroe (La.) (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0007 : Smith vs. Concordia Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0010 : U.S. v. Desoto Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0004 : United States of America v. Avoyelles Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0011 : U.S. v. Catahoula Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0019 : United States v. Morehouse Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0026 : Hall and United States of America v. St. Helena Parish School Board (M.D. La.)
SD-LA-0015 : United States v. Lincoln Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0014 : Conley v. Lake Charles School Board, Calcasieu Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0025 : MONTEILH v. ST. LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0023 : United States of America v. Richland Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0021 : Taylor v. Ouachita Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0008 : US v. School Board of Beinville Parish (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0028 : CLEVELAND v. UNION PARISH SCHOOL BOARD (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0029 : Gilbert v. Webster Parish School District (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0018 : Williams v. Kimbrough (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0038 : Trahan v. Lafayette Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0039 : Battise v. Acadia Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0040 : Valley v. Rapides Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0041 : Robertson v. Natchitoches Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0042 : Henderson v. Iberia Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0043 : Thomas v. St. Martin Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0044 : Boudreaux v. St. Mary Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0045 : Celestain v. Vermilion Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0046 : United States v. Grant Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0047 : United States v. East Carroll Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
SD-LA-0048 : Moore v. Winn Parish School Board (W.D. La.)
| Docket(s) |
|
| 1:69-cv-14430-DDD (W.D. La.) SD-LA-0037-9004.pdf | Detail Date: 10/31/2008 Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records] | ||||||||||
| 6:65-cv-11053 (W.D. La.) SD-LA-0037-9007.pdf | Detail Date: 05/16/2012 Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records] | ||||||||||
| 3:69-cv-14429-RGJ-KLH (W.D. La.) SD-LA-0037-9001.pdf | Detail Date: 03/04/2013 Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records] | ||||||||||
| 5:65-cv-11055-EEF (W.D. La.) SD-LA-0037-9002.pdf | Detail Date: 04/19/2016 Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records] | ||||||||||
| 1:69-cv-14430-DDD (W.D. La.) SD-LA-0037-9005.pdf | Detail Date: 10/13/2016 Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
| Dawkins, Benjamin Cornwell Jr. (W.D. La.) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 Drell, Dee D. (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 Foote, Elizabeth Erny (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 Hayes, Karen L. (W.D. La.) [Magistrate] show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Hunter, Edwin Ford Jr. (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 James, Robert Gillespie (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 | SD-LA-0037-9001 Melacon, Tucker L. Court not on record show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Scott, Nauman Steele (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 | Bell, Murphy W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Burson, I. Jackson (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Chachkin, Norman J. (New York) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Dann, Mark (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Douglas, Nathaniel (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 Flanagan, William J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 Ford, Margrett (New York) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 Ford, Margrett (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Goldschmidt, Iris (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Hebert, Janice E. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Manuel, B.J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Marshall, Franz (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 | SD-LA-0037-9002 | SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 McCarthy, Emily H. (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 McGee, Daniel J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Mitchell, John W. (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Morial, Ernest N. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Shaheen, Edward L. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Skinner, Michael D. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9006 Soileau, Donald (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Stone, Jesse N. Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Taylor, Lisa M. (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Trudeau, A.M. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Vincent, Katherine (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9007 White, Marion Overton (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007
| Abrams, Reginald W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9002 Coreil, C. Brent (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Dill, Pamela W (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Hammonds, Robert L. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Ieyoub, Richard P. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Johnson, John (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 Johnston, J. Bennett Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Katz, Stephen J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Kostelka, Robert W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Pucheu, J. William (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Sutherland, Fred H. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Wright, Jack Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 | Dardeau, Wayne N. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9007 Domingue, Lamont P. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Fleshman, Edwin W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Hoang, Hoai Thanh (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Savoy, Arthur (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 | ||||||
| Dawkins, Benjamin Cornwell Jr. (W.D. La.) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 Drell, Dee D. (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 Foote, Elizabeth Erny (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 Hayes, Karen L. (W.D. La.) [Magistrate] show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Hunter, Edwin Ford Jr. (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 James, Robert Gillespie (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 | SD-LA-0037-9001 Melacon, Tucker L. Court not on record show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Scott, Nauman Steele (W.D. La.) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 | ||||||||||
| Bell, Murphy W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Burson, I. Jackson (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Chachkin, Norman J. (New York) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Dann, Mark (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Douglas, Nathaniel (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 Flanagan, William J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 Ford, Margrett (New York) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 Ford, Margrett (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Goldschmidt, Iris (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Hebert, Janice E. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Manuel, B.J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Marshall, Franz (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 | SD-LA-0037-9002 | SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 McCarthy, Emily H. (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 McGee, Daniel J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Mitchell, John W. (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Morial, Ernest N. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Shaheen, Edward L. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Skinner, Michael D. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 | SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9006 Soileau, Donald (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Stone, Jesse N. Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Taylor, Lisa M. (District of Columbia) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Trudeau, A.M. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Vincent, Katherine (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9007 White, Marion Overton (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007
| Abrams, Reginald W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9002 Coreil, C. Brent (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Dill, Pamela W (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Hammonds, Robert L. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Ieyoub, Richard P. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Johnson, John (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 Johnston, J. Bennett Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Katz, Stephen J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Kostelka, Robert W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Pucheu, J. William (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Sutherland, Fred H. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Wright, Jack Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 | Dardeau, Wayne N. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9007 Domingue, Lamont P. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Fleshman, Edwin W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Hoang, Hoai Thanh (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Savoy, Arthur (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 | ||||||||
| Abrams, Reginald W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9002 Coreil, C. Brent (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Dill, Pamela W (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Hammonds, Robert L. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 | SD-LA-0037-9005 | SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Ieyoub, Richard P. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9006 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Johnson, John (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9004 Johnston, J. Bennett Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9003 Katz, Stephen J. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9001 Kostelka, Robert W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9000 Pucheu, J. William (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Sutherland, Fred H. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9002 | SD-LA-0037-9007 Wright, Jack Jr. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9005 | ||||||||||
| Dardeau, Wayne N. (Louisiana) show/hide docs
SD-LA-0037-9007 Domingue, Lamont P. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Fleshman, Edwin W. (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Hoang, Hoai Thanh (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 Savoy, Arthur (Louisiana) show/hide docs SD-LA-0037-9007 |
African American High Schools in Louisiana Before 1970 