Amended Order Per Curiam
Public Court Documents
August 28, 1969
15 pages
Cite this item
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Case Files, Alexander v. Holmes Hardbacks. Amended Order Per Curiam, 1969. 559edb80-cf67-f011-bec2-6045bdffa665. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/5078a760-b345-4c77-b63b-01e5849a2fb2/amended-order-per-curiam. Accessed November 19, 2025.
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
~~
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Nos. 28030 & 28042
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Be Plaintiff-Appellant,
Ve
HINDS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Defendants-Appellees.
AND ALL CASES INCLUDED IN ; a
THE COURT'S ORDER OF
JULY 3, 1269 AS SUPPLEMENTED
APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI. .
( AUG 23 r 1969)
Before BROWN, Chief Judge, THORNBERRY and MORGAN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: |
The United States Attorney General by motion filed
with this Court on August 21, 1969, with parallel motions
filed in the District Court for the Southern District of
Mississippi as of the same date, requests, in effect, that
this Court modify the mandate and orders heretofore entered,
and,on the permission of this Court being granted, that the
: p %
District Court do likewise, to extend the time for filing
the terminal plans required in our order of July 3, 1969,
to a date not later than December 1, 1969.
"Because of the relative shortness of time and
in order tc permit the appeals to be herrd, Gocidel and
effective action to be taken by the opening of the school
term September 1969-70, this Court expedited the initial
appeal from the decision of the District Court entered in
May 1969. By letter~directive from the Clerk, dated -
June 25, 1969, we set the case for oral argument at 9:30 a.m.
July 2 at New Orleans.
Paragraph 7 of that letter-directive read as . ,
follows: LAI TH re
c. To enable the Court to announce a decision as
CHIR nr rn vrs er cn TY rm an A 5 i Ye eet Smear ; — es rea
. a SE Salas w vag wil COUT AAdiluLo
are requested to file in 15 copies a proposed opinion-
order with definitive time table and provisions on the
hypothesis that the appeal will be sustained, These
should be modeled somewhat on the form used by the Court
in its recent opinions in Mal), et a) v, St, Helena
Parish School Board, et al, No. 26450, May 28, 1969,
and Davis, et al v, Board of School Commissioners of
Mobile County, et al] No. 26886, June 3, 1959, When and
as additional opinion-orders of this type are issued in
other school desegregation cases, copies will be imme-
diately transmitted to all counsel so that the parties
can make appropriate comments during argument with respect
to suggested modifications or changes in their proposed
opinion-orders,
The Court hopes that the appellants, private and
government, can collaborate and submit a mutually agrec-
able proposed opinion-order and it desires from the
appellees contrary proposed orders covering separately
(2) on the hypothesis that the decrees of the District
Court will be affirmed, and (b) on the hypothesis that
the appellants' motion and appeals will be sustained for
reversal, : PoE L
L
LL
r
o
e
.
In response to this request of the Court
several proposed decrees were supplied by one or more
of the parties, including a detailed proposed opinion-
order Submitted by the United States Attorney General
on the eve of the hearing. As pointed out later, this
proposed opinion-orxder prescribed a precise timetable.
on the argument the Court heard from some
18 counscl over a period of the entire Fs On the fol-
lowing day, July 3, 1969, the Court handed down its
opinion-order, which in its opening paragraph stated:
"As questions of time present such
urgency as we approach the beginning
of the new school vent September
1969-70, the Court requested in
advance of argument that the parties
submit proposed opinion-orders modeled
after some of our recent school
desegregation cases. We have drawn
freely upon these proposed opinion-orders."
: Both the "opinion" portion and, more specifically,
the "order" portion of the opinion-order of July 3rd (see
slip opinion p. 16 et seq) was substantially that proposed
by the United States Attorney oneral in response to the
Court's invitation (see paragraph 7 of letter-directive above) .
Except that the Court allowed approximately 10 additional days,
the timetable schedule fixed by the Court was substantially that
recommended by the United States Attorney General:
-S -
Government Date
Paragraph Proposed Fixed
of Order Requirement Date By Court
: 3 Deadline for Aug. 1 Aug. 11
Boards to
file plan
4 Deadline for Aug. 1 Aug. 11
presenting
agreed plans
to Court
5 Deadline for Aug. 1 Aug. 11
HEW filing :
plan
6 Deadline for Aug. 13 Aug, 23
court hearings i
7 Deadline for “Aug, 15. Avg. 27
Court approval of
plans
\.
Subsequently, on or 25, 1969, the Court i its own
motion modified its July 3rd opinion-~order by ember ine
former paragraph 8 to be number 7 and striking from such order
paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 to insert in lieu thoveot new paragraphs
5 and 6 with the following resulting timetable:
5 Revised
New ; ned Date fixed
Paragraph ; Requirement By Court
5 Deadline for Aug. 11
HEW filing plan
5 Deadline for Aug. 21
filing objections :
to HEW plan >.
5 Deadline for Sept. 1
Court order
approving plan
Thus it is shown that the timetable adopted was
substantially that recommended by the United States Attorney
General to be feasible and appropriate.
From the numerous other cases referred to in the
letter-directive, the Court was conscious that precise
timetables were in order. Conseguently, in the course
of the arguments heard on July 3, 1269, the Court addressed
specific questions to all counsel in the case concerning
the proposed timetables. Questions were specifically
directed to the Assistant Attorney General appearing on
behalf of the Government. Without qualification in
response to precise inquiries he affirmed the Government is
view that the timetable proposed by the Government was
reasonable. And.with emphasis on the Attorney General's
proposed order that HEW should be called in to advise
with the Boards and .the District Court, he Lia tint
sufficient resources of the Executive Department would
be made available to enable the Office of Education of
the United States Department of Health, Education and
Welfare to fulfill its role as specified in the order
proposed by it and actually thereafter entered by the
Court.
Except for the entry of the modification order
on July 25 which moved the deadline for the effective
date of the plans from August 27 to September 1, 1969,
no further action has heen taken by this Court. Likewise,
until the motion of August 21, 1969, there has been no
suggestion by the united States Attorney General that
the times fixed by the Court should be relaxed or extended
or that such timetable was unattainable.
The first information that the proposed and
adopted timetable was not appropriate came on August
19, 1969 when Judge John R. Brown, Chief Judge and pre-
siding Judge of this panel, received by safehand courier
the communication from the Secretary of Health, Education
and Welfare dated August 19, 1969, which in turn enclosed
a copy of the Secretary's communication of like date to
Judges Cox, Russell and Nixon. These matters are. cat
forth in this Court's order (with Exhibits 1 and 2) of
August 20, 1969, copies of which are annexed as schedule A.
communicated to the District Court granted full, leave . ..
to the District Court to receive, consider and hear the
Government's motion for extension of time to December 1,
1969. Upon the hearings to be held after notice to
counsel representing all parties not later than Monday,
August 25, it further requested the District Court to make
its recommendations to the Court of Appeals. The District
Court is to communicate its recommended decision and
transmit a copy of the transcript of any evidence to cach
of the Judges at his home station. This Court further
prescribed that in view of the shortness of time, all
counsel were required to forward directly to their home
stations any memorandum briefs in support of or opposition
to. the motion and recommended decision cf the District
Court so that it would be in the Judge's hands not later
than 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 27.
Following this the Court has received and con-
sidered the findings of fact, conclusions of law and
recommendations of the District Court, the record of the
hearings, and the briefs and arguments of counsel, pro and
con. On the basis of the matter set forth herein, the
Court amends its order further as follows:
The order of this Court dated July 3, 1969, as
anenden by order. entered July 25, 1969 is heral further
renumbering Paragraph 7 to be Paragraph 9 and by
amended by/deleting Paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6, and the
following paragraphs are substituted therefor:
3. The Board, in conjunction with the Office of
Education, shall develop and present to the District Court
on or before December 1, 1969, an acceptable plan of
desegregation. a
4. If the Office of Education and a school board
agree upon a plan of AoRoaPonat ins it shall be presented
to the District Court on or before December 1, 1969.. The *
Court shall approve such plan, unless within 15 days after
s1ibhmicgagsion ta +he Conrt any nartioce fila any AhSartiAane Ar
-— -— -
proposed amendments thereto alleging that the plan, or any
part thereof, does not conform to constitutional S4AnactAL.
5. If no agreement is reached, the Office of
Education shall present its proposal for a plan for the
school siemrice to the pistrise Court on or pervs
December 1, 1969. The parties shall have 15 days from the
date such a proposed plan is filed with the istrict Court
to file objections or suggested amendments thereto. The
District Court shall hold a hearing on the proposed plan
and any objections and suggested amendments thereto ma
within 15 days after the time for filing objections has
expired shall by order approve a plan which shall conform
to constitutional standards.
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6. The District Court shall enter Findings of
Fact and Conclusions of Law regarding the efficacy of any
plan which is approved or ordered to disestablish the dual
school system in question. Jurisdiction shall be retained,
however, under the teaching of Green v. County School Board
of New Kent County, 1968, 391 U.S.:430, 439, 88 S.Ct. 1689,
, 20 L.B24.24 716, 724, and Raney v. Board of Education
of Gould School District 1968, 391 U.S. 443, 44%, 88 &5.Ct.
1697, .... -, 20 L.Ed. 2d 727, 732,:until it is: clear that oi
disestablishment has been achieved.
7. By October. 1, 1959 he Board of Trustees in
conjunction with the Office of Education shall develop a,
program to prepare Sts Faculty and staff for the conversion
from the dual to the unitary system. The Office of
Education shall report to the Court on October 1, 1969
with respect to this program. If the Board fails Sl aes
a program, the Office of Education shall submit a program
which the Court may approve unless meritorious objections
supported by afEianviy or other SooumenLuey evidence are
made by any party.
8. The Board shall not let any new contracts for
the construction of any new facilities nor materially alter
any existing facilities until a terminal plan has been
approved by the Court, except with the prior agreement of
all parties or by order of the Court upon motion and hearing.
The Board shall present its proposals to the parties and seek
their consent at least 15 days prior to moving for Court approval.
SECOND:
It is a condition of this extension of time that
the plan as submitted and the plan as finally approved shall
require significant action toward disestablishment of the
dual school systems during the school year September 1969-
June 1970.
In all other respects the order cof this Court of
July 3, 1969, as amended July 25, 1969, remains in full
force and effect.
—- YO
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' IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR TIlE FIFTH CIRCUIT
-
Nos. 28030 & 28042
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintifi-Appellant,
Ve.
HINDS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
= pe Senden Appel leds.
AND ALL CASES INCLUDED 53
THE COURT'S ORDER OF
JULY 3, 1969 AS SUPPLEMENTED
*
B —
———— ‘
hr
APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI °: :
fo + 1389)
Before PROV, Chief Sudse, THORNBERRY and MORGAN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: |
On August 19, 1969, Judge John R. Brown
received by safehand SE wrlor the attached communication
of August 19, 1969 (marked Exhibit 1) from the Secretary
of Health, Education and Welfare which in turn enclosed
a copy of his communication of like date to Judges Cox,
Russcll and Nixon gi Exhibit 2). Presumably this
was delivered directly to the Judges concerned because
Se HED! F~ A
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the orders of this Court and the District Court pursuant
thereto call upon the Department of Health, Education and
Welfare to take certain action.
As the timetable heretofore fixed was substantially
that recommended by the United States Attorney General in
response to the request made by this Court to all parties
prior to the argument of this case in July 1969, the Court,
being of the opinion that it was essential to know at the
earliest time the position of the .parties as expressed in
due order through their respective counsel, made inquiry
»
of the Department of Justice.’ The Court was informed that
motions were in the course of preparation for immediate
Filing in the Disilrict Court
in the Court of Appeals sccking the entry of orders granting
the sugnotied extension to December 1, 1969.
The Court has taken no action other than to
record these facts.
ENTER: August 20, 1969.
lA ‘oo i :
i 3, 5 CE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, coven) AND WELFARE
Lia Fox : WASHINGION. D.'C. 20201
Lh = : ws
.
I
August 19, 1969
Dear Judge Brown:
Enclosed is a copy of a letter which I have addressed
: to, and delivered to, Judges Cox, Russell, and Nixon
by special courier. I have directed that -the special
courier deliver this copy to you at or nearly at the
same time. wi
| Sincerely,
J
Honorable John R. Brown
Chief Judge, U. S. Court
of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
i f1uus LULL, 1CAAdD
Enclosure
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N cabdids 3 ho UE adi. - ant » Jaks Gass i ina hak dada Ft : F.
BE tacit
a ks, RL : i 3 i TARY OF HEALTH, CROUCAT oye WELFARE
Ca ve ly
Ns "lg WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
pony Judge Coss
In accorlonca with the United States Court of
: wroadls for the BLES Hyomt, experts Iman the Office of
: Ldacation in i ny won of Tealth, Fracati cn, and Volfare
Jas, havo axelo od end filed torminal 2 m3 to disestablish hoe
TP r.. NOPE 2 JR od al et oid rv cual sohiool © Ballons an 33 Mhsainaiyol school glsixictk casas.
UTEP Ty “ng wy
—raeair ROTTING hy I J - rover y : 3 2 a HA 3-3 pe 1 plans worn Govelored, rmovioaed with the school > :
E “1eqe ad HL ia, damadeimer TAY prtoqal pode 1m i distyricis, and filed vith in Stans Diatyict Oou
y for 334m, Sout im PET SEC RP NE hE Fok Kotoko a FS LT Pang 13 ! By Xa WY a ARMOE 1s i RSL bY ME LR REPENS Gil £2 AS Ly
v ~~ Ye ~1 Aut PN “1 . 3 Ly one Fon on, 4 in Yd
as Io Tram wd hy Hv Ox JE HStobon Cot of
+] £121. fc SP - ry y— « o wl For the Fifth Clveits Fira plans vers davelo:s
- Cre AS A .y eB IE 3 - ) ~~ rm we a = < a - wilisy graat stres 35 An eoovedimntoaly Suen weasls ; they are tc
rd ron prs, JEL. oy ~ ~ WE a Hy nt - Trays a ordo red for inslemont rion on Zant 25, 1062, and ordernd
- Br FR me oa, ey Sa 4 ET Py 15 a Yume oy - ro o4. £0) to x drplox — comneang with Ue einrdneg Of Ym 15560
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doelored and £1124 hy tho arorts fon Yo Off los of Ix
—" ~ py "rr * or GO 3 00-4 I have porconally sicn md i enc Of thwoe plans. This
Hh « of 5 i. AS - ron . Ay rg vas conducted in ty canacily as Soca wotary of the Depovizant of
oF = vow - h JAN \ SE Pel £23 - ~ Yealth, Tducation, and tolfam and es the Cahinnt officor of
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our Covanimant charged with the ultimots resoonsilxility for
the education of 12 poople of our Matic.
In this sane can city, ard bearing in mind the great trust
reposod in me, togothor with the ultimate responsibility for
the education of Ce poonlo of cur Nation, I aa qgrovoly
conorvned that the tire itn =d for the & svelorent tof these
tenmadnal plans has been mach too stort for oki cducntors of
tie OZfic of IXucation to dovelop tein rinal Plans which can
Lo oplasmtaed this year. The aduinistr ative and logistical
Adifficultins vhich mst bo OROZUnd and ret in the terribly
oe
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a amd the acinistyative Alfficalides wich lie anor
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IDENTICAL LETTER SENT THIS IATE TO: Honorable Don M. Russell, Jre
Judge, U. S. District Court
of the Southern District
Honorable Walter L. Nixon
: Juude, Ue Oo IIL a hin
of the Southern District
Gulfport, Mississippi
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