Supreme Court of the United States
Columbus Board of Education v. Penick
July 2, 1979443 U.S. 449
Summary
The Supreme Court affirmed the Sixth Circuit’s judgment that the Columbus Board of Education intentionally maintained a systemwide segregated school system in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and that a systemwide remedial plan was constitutionally required. The Court rejected the Board’s arguments that the remedy was overly broad and that the violation was not systemwide. Separate dissenting and concurring opinions criticized the majority’s approach to remedy scope and burden of proof.
Holding
- Whether the Columbus Board of Education’s actions constitute intentional segregation in violation of the Equal Protection Clause.. The Board’s policies were found to be intentionally discriminatory and therefore violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
- Whether the segregation was systemwide enough to justify a systemwide remedial plan.. The segregation was systemwide, warranting a systemwide remedial plan.
- Whether the district court’s systemwide remedy complies with the standards set forth in Dayton I and prior precedent.. The remedy is proper because it is tailored to the systemwide violation and is within the equitable discretion authorized by Swann and Dayton I.
- What standard of review applies to the district court’s factual findings and legal conclusions.. Factual findings are reviewed for clear error; legal conclusions are reviewed de novo.
Docket 78-610