Supreme Court Considers School Integration Case: A Debate

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a pair of cases that could determine whether local governments can take measures to promote racially desegregated schools. Parents of white students in Seattle and Louisville sued their local school districts to challenge policies that considered race as a factor in determining what schools students attend. In both systems, students are offered a choice of schools but can be denied admission if enrolling at a particular school would upset the racial balance. Both desegregation plans were voluntarily enacted by the local school districts.

The court's conservative majority seemed hostile to the school desegregation plans. The landmark 1954 Brown Vs. Board of Education case, which ruled segregated schools unconstitutional, was repeatedly brought up as evidence of the strict scrutiny that race-based plans must face. Here is Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia in an exchange with the Seattle District's lawyer- Michael Madden.

* Excerpt of Supreme Court hearing.

The Bush Administration filed a "friend of the court" brief for the white parents challenging the school districts. This is Justice Stephen Breyer responding to Solicitor General Paul Clement who argued the Bush Administration's position.

* Excerpt of Supreme Court hearing.

We host a debate on school integration:

* Ted Shaw, is the Director-Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
* Todd Gaziano, director of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies for the Heritage Foundation.

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http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/06/1430202