Nego Admittance to Professional Group Ordered by Federal Court

Press Release
January 31, 1964

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Fed. Ct. in GA Orders Admission of Negroes in Professional Societies

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- Press Releases
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- 840f04af-b492-ee11-be37-00224827e97b

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Press Releases, Volume 1. Nego Admittance to Professional Group Ordered by Federal Court, 1964. 840f04af-b492-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/0d335272-fcdc-4c8e-8d79-4ca14662c458/nego-admittance-to-professional-group-ordered-by-federal-court. Accessed November 23, 2025.

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    PRESS RELEASE F 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 
TOCOLUMBUS CIRCLE + NEW YORK19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 

DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS JACK GREENBERG CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY 
President Director-Counsel Associate Counsel 

NEGRO ADMITTANCE TO PROFESSIONAL 
GROUP ORDERED BY FEDERAL COURT 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund Scores Major Breakthrough 

January 31, 1964 

ATLANTA---A U.S, Federal Court has said, for the first time, that pro 
fessional associations, which participate in selection of state 
officials, may not discriminate against Negroes. 

Judge Frank A. Hooper ruled this week that Georgia's Northern 
District Dental Society must accept membership of Dr. Roy Bell, 
Atlanta dentist, 

Dr. Bell was represented by attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense 
and Educational Fund who successfully argued that the all-white 
Society is “significantly involved with government." 

Judge Hooper agreed saying "the Georgia Legislature, by giving 
to the Dental Association the right to nominate members of three 
state agencies...made it an agency of the State of Georgia... 

"The Dental Association, by excluding Negro dentists from its 
membership, thereby deprived them of the right to vote in connection 
with the nomination of dentists to fill places on...three boards," 

- «judge Hooper continued, 

"One of these boards," the court added, has"the responsibility 
of examining applicants for a license to practice dentistry in 
Georgia,” 

By being denied membership in the Northern District Dental 
Society, Dr. Bell was automatically denied membership in Georgia Den- 
tal Association and thereby automatically denied membership in the 
National Dental Association, 

Thus, he and other Negro dentists in his area, were denied 
opportunities for post graduate seminars, conferences, literature and 
professional association necessary to keep abreast of new trends in 
dentistry. 

Ironically, Negro dentists from other parts of Georgia belong 
to the Dental Societies of their regions, 

- NAACP Legal Defense Fund Attorneys Donald Hollowell and Horace 
T. Ward of Atlanta and Michael Meltsner of New York City, who appear- 
ed in court, and pointed out the Dental Association had the right 
to: 

* nominate practicing dentists to be appointed by the 
Governor to the Georgia Board of Dental Examiners 

* nominate dentists to be appointed by the Governor to 
the State Board of Health 

* appoint members of the Georgia State Hospital Advisory 
Committee. 

This, they contended, represented "state action" which brought 
the issue within jurisdiction of the U.S. Constitution, 

The Northern District Dental Society and the Georgia Dental 
Association plan an appeal, 

Jack Greenberg, director-counsel of the Fund and James M, 
Nabrit, III, assistant counsel, were of counsel, 

- 30_>—~- 

1 
A

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Nego Admittance to Professional Group Ordered by Federal Court

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