Federal Court Ends 60-Year School Desegregation Case in Louisiana
A federal court closed the Smith v. Concordia Parish desegregation case after 60 years.
Why it matters: This closure marks a major shift in civil rights enforcement and local control of education, affecting legal professionals in civil rights and public law. It highlights evolving attitudes toward federal oversight in school governance.
- The Smith v. Concordia Parish case started in 1965 to desegregate schools in Ferriday, Louisiana.
- On July 14, 2026, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ended federal oversight of Concordia Parish schools.
- The DOJ had enforced the desegregation order since 1966 but reversed its stance during the Trump administration.
- The Concordia Parish School Board rejected a 2024 DOJ consent order and pursued dismissal leading to the case's closure.
- The 5th Circuit ended the case on procedural grounds after parties filed a joint dismissal stipulation.
The Smith v. Concordia Parish School Board lawsuit was filed on November 30, 1965, by Black families in Ferriday, Louisiana, aiming to integrate the local school system, which had been racially segregated. The case led to over 60 years of federal oversight as courts and the U.S. Department of Justice monitored compliance with desegregation mandates.
In a significant development, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals formally closed the case on July 14, 2026. The decision ended decades of federal court supervision over the Concordia Parish School Board. The court ruled the case terminated once all parties agreed to a joint stipulation of dismissal, ending the judicial involvement on procedural grounds (5th Circuit opinion).
The U.S. Department of Justice had been enforcing the desegregation order since 1966. However, the DOJ reversed this longstanding position during the Trump administration, advocating for dismissal of such cases and a reduction in federal oversight (AP News).
Earlier, in December 2024, the Concordia Parish School Board voted against a DOJ proposed consent order designed to fulfill desegregation obligations, opting instead to seek dismissal of the case. This reflected growing local resistance to continued federal involvement (KNOE report).
Attorney General Liz Murrill commented that "The good people of Concordia Parish elected their school board to govern their schools — not unelected federal judges. Today's decision puts that authority back where it belongs." However, some parents remain concerned about the impact, with one father telling AP News, "It's almost like our kids don't deserve it." Demographic disparities persist in Concordia Parish schools, with Ferriday High School being 90% Black and Vidalia High School 62% white, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving integration.
By the numbers:
- 60+ years — duration of federal oversight since the 1965 lawsuit
- 90% Black — student demographic at Ferriday High School
- 62% white — student demographic at Vidalia High School
Yes, but: While federal oversight has ended, racial imbalances in school demographics remain, raising questions about the effectiveness of local control in ensuring integration.
What's next: Legal observers will watch whether Concordia Parish schools maintain desegregation progress without federal supervision and if similar cases across the country conclude likewise.