Comment on Supreme Court Decision on Counsel Fees in School Desegregation Cases; Press Conference on Capital Punishment
Press Release
May 15, 1974 - June 10, 1974

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Press Releases, Volume 6. Comment on Supreme Court Decision on Counsel Fees in School Desegregation Cases; Press Conference on Capital Punishment, 1974. 48a187ef-ba92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/35eae7f5-66c9-43e5-a439-fa58cc849cef/comment-on-supreme-court-decision-on-counsel-fees-in-school-desegregation-cases-press-conference-on-capital-punishment. Accessed June 17, 2025.
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RAO 240 IBY NYPR 124 7FROM PR NEWSWIRE=-NYC 212-852-9400/L2 0 13-626-5501/MIA 305-5 76-5020/ TO CITY DESK ODAY I yEW YORK, “AY 15 -- THE NAACP LEGAL DEFES THE FOLLOWING COMMENT ON U.S cGUPREME COURT DECISION ON COUNSEL S. FEES IN SCHOOL DESEGREGAT ION CASES= == “THE SUPREYE COURT'S DECISION THIS MORNING TO AWARD COUNSEL N THE RICHMOND SCHOOL DESEGREGATION CASE WILL HAVE BROAD IMPLICATIONS IN MANY PENDING SCHOO COLEMAN, JR., PRESIDENT OF THE NAAC BROUGHT THE CASE. "SCHOOL BOARDS HA\ THIS DECISION “ME NS THAT PRIVATE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS CAN OBTAIN THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE THE RIGHTS OF BLACK SCHOOL CHILDREN,” MR. COLEMAN ADDED. BOARDS WHO F couLD NISCRIMINATE WITH IMPUNITY. NOW THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY THE FEES OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE SUED THEM TO DESEGREGATE.” WORKING WITH MR. COLEMAN ON THE CASE WAS LDF ATTORNEY, ERIC SCHNAPPER OF NEW YORK, AND COOPERAT ING LAWYER, LOUIS Lucas OF MEMPHIS. LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ATTORNE EGATION LAW SUITS o1 BOARDS IN SUCH CITIES AS CHARLOTTE, DENVER, MOBILE, AGAINST NEWPORT NEWS, AND WINSTON-SALEM AS AMONG THOSE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY TODAY'S DECISION. A SUPREME COURT DECISION OF Last JUNE 4, NORTHCROSS V. MEMPHTS ALSO A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND-CASE ANNOUNCED THE BOARD OF SELON : PRINCIPLE OF COMPENSATING WINNING ATTORNEYS IN DESEGREGATION LAW SUITS OUT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. TODAY'S DECISION MAKES THE NORTHCROSS PRINCIPLE RETROACTIVE. THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND MAINTAINS A CURRENT DOCKET OF 265 CASES IN 18 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ON SUBJECTS RELATED TO EDUCATION. =0= /CONTACT -- RICK WOYLE OF NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AT 212-536-3397/ ae 2410 aera tut 10 WY NYPR67 /7FROM PR NEWSWIRE--NYC 212-832-9400/LA 213-626-5501/MIA 505-576-5020/ TO CITY DESK COPY TO NATIONAL NEWS ER oN EEA, THE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE DEALING WITH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON WEDNESDAY /JUNE 12)/ AT 3 P.M. IN ITS NATIONAL OFFICE, 10 COLUMBUS CIRCLE. ee eae ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING. ON THAT DAY, THE FUND ANTICIPATES THAT THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ON DEATH ROWS IN 16 STATES WILL HIT OR PASS THE 100 MARK. COINCIDENT WITH THIS “BARBARIC” MILESTONE, THE FUND IS ASKING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ON TUESDAY /JUNE 11/ TO REVIEW THE CONVICTIONS AND DEATH ) SENTENCES OF FOUR BLACK NORTH CAROLINA PRISONERS. THEY ARE DAVID DILLARD: ALBERT CROWDER, JR-, TOMMY NOELL AND HENRY N. JARRETTE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANY DEATH SENTENCES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SINCE THE FURMAN DECISION OF JUNE 29, 1972. IN THAT RULING, ARISING OUT OF THREE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND CASES /COLLECTIVELY CALLED FURMAN V. GEORGIA/ THE HIGH COURT HELD THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHEN THE SENTENCING AUTHORITY IS FREE TO DECIDE BETWEEN DEATH AND SOME LESSER PENALTY. THE FURMAN DECISION, WHICH HELD THIS FORM OF DEATH PENALTY TO BE “CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT," SPARED THE LIVES OF 631 ON DEATH ROWS. IN THE INTERVENING TWO YEARS SINCE FURMAN, 23 STATES HAVE REINSTITUTED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT STATUTES, ASSUMING THAT THE STATUTES COULD MEET CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIREMENTS BY IMPOSING STANDARDS TO CONTROL JURY DISCRETION, OR BY MAKING THE DEATH PENALTY AUTOMATIC UPON CONVICTION OF CERTAIN CRIMES. THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND IS ATTACKING THE FOUR NORTH CAROLINA DEATH SENTENCES ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE FURMAN DECISION, IN VIOLATION OF THE 8TH AND 14TH AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND IN ONE INSTANCE, THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS EXCESSIVE AND ABERRATIONAL. THE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND SAID THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CONTINUING DISCRIMINATION IN THE IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY: 52 OF THE 99 PERSONS ON DEATH ROWS AS OF JUNE 6 WERE NON-WHITE. AT THE TIME OF FURMAN, 57.7 PER CENT OF THOSE ON DEATH ROWS WERE BLACK. THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AND ITS COOPERATING ATTORNEYS, WORKING WITH DISTINGUISHED LAW PROFESSORS, HAS SUCCEEDED IN STOPPING ALL EXECUTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE 1967. IT WILL CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE ALL DEATH PENALTIES AREFSENG OUT OF NEW STATE LAWS -- AS WELL AS ALL CONVICTIONS ARISING OUT OF OLDER STATUTES. CONTACT -- NORMAN BLOOMFIELD OF ,NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND AT 212-586-8397. -0- /SUNE 10/