Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-4_92-cv-04040/USCOURTS-arwd-4_92-cv-04040-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1981 Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

TEXARKANA DIVISION

MARY TURNER, et al. PLAINTIFFS

v. Case No. 4:92-cv-4040

LAFAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al. DEFENDANTS

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION and

ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION INTERVENORS

ORDER

Before the Court is the Motion for Stay Pending Appeal and to Expedite (ECF No. 75) 

filed by Intervenors Arkansas Department of Education and Arkansas State Board of Education. 

(“ADE and SBE”). Defendant Lafayette County School District (“LCSD”) has responded. (ECF 

No. 78). The Court finds the matter ripe for consideration.

I. BACKGROUND

On January 17, 2019, the Court entered an order (the “modification order”) modifying a 

consent decree executed by Plaintiffs and LCSD (the “Turner Decree”) to explicitly prohibit the 

segregative interdistrict transfer of students from LCSD to other school districts, unless such a 

transfer is requested for education or compassionate purposes and is approved by LCSD’s school 

board on a case-by-case basis.1 (ECF No. 72). On February 15, 2019, the ADE and SBE filed a 

notice of appeal as to the modification order. That same day, the ADE and SBE filed the instant 

motion, asking the Court to issue a stay of the modification order pending the outcome of the 

appeal and asking the Court to shorten the other parties’ time to respond to the instant motion. On 

February 20, 2019, the Court denied the ADE and SBE’s request to shorten the other parties’ 

 1 The Court’s modification order recounted in depth the factual and procedural underpinnings of the present dispute. 

(ECF No.72, pp. 1-6). For brevity’s sake, the Court will not repeat that background in this order. 

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response time. (ECF No. 77). On March 1, 2019, LCSD filed a response opposing the instant 

motion. (ECF No. 78). On March 4, 2019, Plaintiffs moved to adopt LCSD’s response by 

reference, and the Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion on March 5, 2019. (ECF Nos. 80, 81). 

For the reasons discussed below, the Court finds that the ADE and SBE have not met their 

burden to receive a temporary administrative stay of the modification order or a full stay pending 

the appeal of the modification order.

II. DISCUSSION

In deciding whether to grant a motion to stay an order pending appeal, the Court considers 

the following four factors: (1) the likelihood of the movant’s success on the merits of the appeal; 

(2) whether the movant will be irreparably harmed absent a stay; (3) whether issuance of the stay 

would substantially injure the non-moving party; and (4) where the public interest lies.2 Hilton v. 

Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987). Courts must consider the relative strength of the four factors, 

balancing them all, with the most important factor being the likelihood of success on appeal. Brady 

v. Nat’l Football League, 640 F.3d 785, 789 (8th Cir. 2011). As the moving parties, the ADE and 

SBE bear the burden of proving that the weight of the four factors warrant a stay. See James River 

Flood Control Ass’n v. Watt, 680 F.2d 543, 544 (8th Cir. 1982) (per curiam). With this standard 

in mind, the Court will now address each of the four factors as they relate to the instant motion for 

a stay pending appeal.

A. Likelihood of Success on the Merits

The first factor asks whether the moving party is likely to succeed on appeal. Hilton, 481 

U.S. at 776. The moving party need not establish an absolute certainty of success. Iowa Utils. Bd. 

v. F.C.C., 109 F.3d 418, 423 (8th Cir. 1996). 

 2 These four factors are the same factors used to determine whether to grant a preliminary injunction. S & M 

Constructors, Inc. v. Foley Co., 959 F.2d 97, 98 (8th Cir. 1992).

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The modification order found that modification of the Turner Decree was proper because 

a significant change in law warranted revision of the decree and because the proposed modification 

was suitably tailored to the changed circumstance. In the present motion, the ADE and SBE 

advance three arguments as to why the Court’s ruling is likely to be reversed on appeal: (1) that 

no significant change in law occurred to warrant modification and that the Court misinterpreted 

the Turner Decree, (2) that the modification was not suitably tailored because it imposed an 

impermissible interdistrict remedy, and (3) the modification order unlawfully violates students’

equal protection rights. The Court will separately address each of these arguments.

1. Significant Change in Facts or Law

The ADE and SBE’s first argument is that the enactment of Act 1066 of the Regular 

Session of 2017 (the “2017 Act”) was not a significant change in law justifying modification 

because the Turner Decree did not explicitly concern the interdistrict transfer of students from 

LCSD to elsewhere. Specifically, the ADE and SBE argue that the 2017 Act was not a significant 

change in law because LCSD did not show that the law had an actual effect on the Turner Decree, 

thereby making it unworkable. This argument is repetitive of an argument that the ADE and SBE

previously made in the underlying briefing that gave way to the Court’s modification order, and 

that the Court expressly considered and rejected. Without restating the entire modification order, 

the Court found3 that “LCSD [had] shown that a significant change in circumstances [was] present, 

justifying modification of the Turner Decree.” (ECF No. 72, p. 13). The Court reasoned that the 

2017 Act requires that, for LCSD to receive an exemption from school choice, the Turner Decree 

must contain specific restrictive language that was contemplated by and built into the Arkansas 

 3 Throughout their motion, the ADE and SBE assert on multiple occasions that the Court “argue[ed]” various findings 

made in the modification order. (ECF No. 76, pp 4, 10, 11). This characterization is mistaken, however, because the 

Court is not a party to this case and does not make arguments but, rather, makes findings and rulings.

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Public School Choice Act of 1989 (the “1989 Act”), which was in effect at the time the decree was 

executed. Thus, the 2017 Act prevents LCSD from claiming an exemption from participating in 

school choice, thereby presenting a change in law that justified modification of the decree.

The ADE and SBE also argue that the Court misinterpreted the Turner Decree. They argue 

that this case and the Turner Decree have nothing to do with the interdistrict transfer of students, 

and the parties to the Turner Decree did not believe that the decree encompassed that subject. 

Thus, they argue that the Court erred by looking beyond the four corners of the Turner Decree and 

finding that the parties to the decree intended to prohibit student transfers which result in the 

segregation of LCSD’s student body. 

The Court’s modification order considered and rejected this argument, finding that the 

Turner Decree, by its explicit terms, “clearly intended to prohibit any racial discrimination 

occurring within the LCSD school district, including preventing student transfers which result in 

segregation of LCSD’s student body.” (ECF No. 72, p. 12). In reaching this conclusion, the Court 

was mindful of the Eighth Circuit’s instruction that courts interpreting a consent decree “are not 

to ignore the context in which the parties were operating, nor the circumstances surrounding the 

order.” United States v. Knote, 29 F.3d 1297, 1300 (8th Cir. 1994). Although the Court noted that 

the Turner Decree did not explicitly prohibit the interdistrict transfer of students, the Court also

considered the context in which the parties were operating and the circumstances surrounding the 

order, thereby finding that “it was unnecessary for the parties to draft the Turner Decree in a way 

that explicitly barred segregative inter-district student transfers because that limitation was 

contemplated by the school choice law in place at the time.” (ECF No. 72, p. 12). Thus, the Court 

did not misconstrue the consent decree, but rather interpreted it using its plain language and by 

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properly considering the context in which the parties negotiated and executed the Turner Decree

and the circumstances surrounding the decree.

4

For the above reasons and for the reasons stated in the modification order, the Court finds 

that the ADE and SBE are unlikely to succeed on appeal with arguments that the Court previously 

considered and rejected. Cf. St. Jude Med., Inc. v. Access Closure, Inc., No. 4:08-cv-4101-HFB, 

2012 WL 12919351, at *1 (W.D. Ark. Oct. 2, 2012) (“[I]f the Court thought [the movant’s] 

position was likely to succeed on appeal, the Court would not have decided against [the movant] 

in the first place.”). The ADE and SBE have presented no additional argument or on-point caselaw

to cause the Court to reverse course from its prior ruling. Thus, the Court finds that they are 

unlikely to succeed on appeal with these arguments.

2. Interdistrict Remedy

The ADE and SBE further argue that the modification order imposes an impermissible 

“interdistrict remedy,” and is, therefore, not suitably tailored to the changed circumstances outlined 

by the Court. The ADE and SBE assert that the claimed interdistrict remedy is inappropriate 

because the Turner Decree only dealt with alleged intradistrict violations. This line of argument 

was addressed and found unpersuasive in the modification order. (ECF No. 72, p. 15). 

Specifically, the Court observed that the modification would not directly restrict any other school 

district’s actions. That being said, the Court noted that the modification would have an indirect 

impact on other school districts in that they would be unable to receive LCSD students via school 

choice transfers because LCSD would be barred from granting segregative interdistrict transfers. 

 4 The Court further notes that the ADE and SBE are not parties to the Turner Decree. In both their underlying brief 

and in the instant motion, the ADE and SBE assert that the parties to the Turner Decree did not intend for the decree 

to encompass interdistrict student transfers because the case did not concern that and because the decree did not contain 

that specific language. However, the ADE and SBE provide no evidence of Plaintiffs’ and LCSD’s intent when 

executing the Turner Decree. Accordingly, the Court finds that any assertion by the ADE and SBE as to the executing 

parties’ intent is purely speculative and unsupported by any evidence in the record. Thus, the Court finds any such 

assertion unpersuasive.

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However, the Court stated that the ADE and SBE had cited no binding authority finding that a 

remedy like the modification constituted an interdistrict remedy and that the Court was unaware 

of any such authority.5 The Court further noted instances in which courts had found that the 

remedy implemented was interdistrict, such as forced consolidation of school districts, imposition 

of an interdistrict magnet school plan, and creation of an interdistrict student bussing plan.

6 (ECF 

No. 72, p. 16).

The ADE and SBE now attempt to re-litigate this issue. To the extent that the ADE and 

SBE present the same or substantially similar arguments as previously addressed by the 

modification order, the Court again finds those arguments unpersuasive. The ADE and SBE, 

however, do present one new, though similar, argument that was not raised in the briefing of the 

underlying motion. Specifically, the ADE and SBE assert that the granted modification is 

impermissible because it had an “interdistrict purpose,” arguing that a remedy that has an 

interdistrict purpose “is impermissible in cases with no interdistrict violation.” (ECF No. 76, p. 

12-13). The ADE and SBE state that:

The Court’s Modification Order undoubtedly has such an “interdistrict purpose.” 

Indeed, its express purpose is to affect the racial demographics of [LCSD] relative 

to the surrounding districts. Because the Modification Order’s purpose is to affect 

the racial makeup of [LCSD] relative to the surrounding schools by preventing 

 5 The ADE and SBE take issue with this aspect of the Court’s finding that the modification was not an interdistrict 

remedy. They state that, “more importantly” than the fact that the Court was unaware of any binding authority

establishing that a remedy like the modification constitutes an interdistrict remedy, the “Court did not cite any case 

(and [the ADE and SBE have] not located any case) modifying a decades-old consent decree that has nothing to do 

with interdistrict student transfers to prohibit interdistrict transfers based solely on a student’s race.” (ECF No. 76, p. 

11, n.1). The ADE and SBE appear to take the position that it is the Court’s burden to find supporting authority for 

the parties’ arguments and positions. This, of course, is not the case. It is the responsibility of any party presenting 

their position to adequately support that position and establish that they are entitled to the relief sought.

6 The ADE and SBE appear to misrepresent this portion of the modification order. Specifically, the ADE and SBE 

assert that the modification order found “that only ‘remedies where courts directly order action that directly impacts 

multiple school districts’ . . . constitute an interdistrict remedy.” (ECF No. 76, p. 10-11) (emphasis added). The Court 

made no such finding. Instead, the Court merely noted various remedies that courts have found to be interdistrict in 

nature, stating that “the Eighth Circuit has found inter-district remedies where courts order action that directly impacts 

multiple school districts.” (ECF No. 72, p. 16). This observation was obviously not meant to be exhaustive, but 

simply served to identify examples of specific remedies that had been found to be interdistrict. 

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student transfers, it is an impermissible interdistrict remedy and will likely be 

reversed on appeal.

(ECF No. 76, pp. 12-13). 

Upon consideration, the Court finds this argument unpersuasive. Indeed, the ADE and 

SBE’s argument as to this issue is largely conclusory, simply asserting that the modification order 

has an interdistrict purpose without clearly explaining how they came to that conclusion. 

Notwithstanding the ADE and SBE’s assertions otherwise, the modification order does not have 

an interdistrict purpose. The purpose of the modification is, in short, to ensure that LCSD can

comply with its desegregation obligations under the Turner Decree in light of recent statutory 

changes in the Arkansas Code. The modification is not meant to affect the racial demographics of 

any school district around LCSD and does not seek to “affect the racial demographics of [LCSD] 

relative to the surrounding districts” as argued by the ADE and SBE. Likewise, the modification 

order does not impose any duties or requirements on the surrounding school districts. Accordingly, 

the Court finds that it is unlikely that the ADE and SBE will prevail on this point on appeal because

the remedy imposed is not an interdistrict remedy.

3. Equal Protection Violation

The ADE and SBE also argue that the Court’s modification order unlawfully violates 

students’ equal protection rights because it requires LCSD to deny students’ interdistrict transfer 

requests based solely on their race. The ADE and SBE argue further that the modification order 

resembles the requirements of the 1989 Act, which was declared unconstitutional. The ADE and 

SBE assert that the modification order will likely be reversed on appeal because it applies without 

regard to whether a resident or non-resident school district has a history of de jure or de facto

segregation. LCSD argues in response that the United States Supreme Court has instructed that 

courts “may constitutionally employ racial classification essential to remedy unlawful treatment 

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of racial or ethnic groups subject to discrimination.” (ECF No. 79, p. 23). LCSD asserts that the 

Court’s modification order is unlikely to be reversed on appeal because it comports squarely with 

this statement of law, as the parties to this case sought to rectify past practices of racial 

discrimination at LCSD.

Generally, the Eighth Circuit “will not consider an argument raised for the first time on 

appeal.” United States v. Hirani, 824 F.3d 741, 751 (8th Cir. 2016). However, the Eighth Circuit 

has addressed new arguments raised on appeal where the new issue is encompassed in a more 

general argument previously raised and where no new evidence is necessary. Id. The Eighth 

Circuit also may consider a newly raised argument if a manifest injustice would otherwise result. 

Id.; Von Kerssenbrock-Praschma v. Saunders, 121 F.3d 373, 376 (8th Cir. 1997) (“[T]here are 

circumstances in which a federal appellate court is justified in resolving an issue not passed on 

below, as where the proper resolution is beyond any doubt or where injustice might otherwise 

result.”).

Despite having the opportunity to do so, the ADE and SBE did not argue in their underlying 

brief that modification of the Turner Decree would improperly deny equal protection to students 

at LCSD. Although the words “equal protection” appear in the ADE and SBE’s underlying brief 

on numerous occasions, they are presented only in the context of arguing that LCSD failed to argue 

or demonstrate that the 2017 Act is unconstitutional or that the 2017 Act otherwise violates LCSD

students’ equal protection rights. The ADE and SBE state nothing in their underlying brief that 

could be remotely construed as an argument that LCSD’s proposed modification of the Turner

Decree should be rejected because it would deny equal protection to students. The only reasons 

argued against modification by the ADE and SBE in their underlying brief were that no significant 

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change in fact or law warranted modification and that the proposed modification was an 

impermissible interdistrict remedy. (ECF No. 45, pp. 27-28).

As such, the Court finds that the ADE and SBE’s equal-protection argument will be newly 

raised on appeal for the first time. As just discussed, this newly raised argument is not 

encompassed in any more general argument previously made by the ADE and SBE in their 

underlying brief. The ADE and SBE do not discuss the newly raised status of the argument, nor 

do they argue that any circumstances exist upon which the Eighth Circuit might choose to consider 

the newly raised argument. Moreover, the arguments advanced by the ADE and SBE and by 

LCSD on this issue demonstrate to the Court that this newly raised issue is not one “where the 

proper resolution is beyond any doubt.” Saunders, 121 F.3d at 376. 

The Court finds that the Eighth Circuit is unlikely to consider the ADE and SBE’s newly 

raised equal-protection argument. Thus, the Court finds no reason to address the merits of the 

argument because the ADE and SBE are unlikely to succeed on appeal with a newly raised 

argument that is not encompassed by any more general argument previously raised. See Pub. 

Water Supply Dist. No. 3 of Laclede Cnty., Mo. v. City of Lebanon, Mo., 605 F.3d 511, 524 (8th 

Cir. 2010) (noting the Eighth Circuit’s “well-established rule . . . that ‘[a]bsent exceptional 

circumstances, we cannot consider issues not raised in the district court’”).

4. Conclusion

For the aforementioned reasons, the Court finds that the ADE and SBE have not 

demonstrated that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their appeal. Accordingly, this factor 

weighs against granting the requested stay.

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B. Irreparable Harm to Movant Absent a Stay

The ADE and SBE argue that both the State of Arkansas and numerous Arkansans will be 

irreparably harmed without a stay. 

A party moving for a stay pending appeal must show that it will be irreparably harmed if a 

stay is not entered. Hilton, 481 U.S. at 776. To demonstrate “irreparable harm,” a party must 

show that the harm is certain, great, and of such imminence that there is a clear and present need 

for equitable relief. Iowa Utils. Bd., 109 F.3d at 425. “Irreparable harm occurs when a party has 

no adequate remedy at law, typically because its injuries cannot be fully compensated through an 

award of damages.” Gen. Motors Corp. v. Harry Brown’s, LLC, 563 F.3d 312, 319 (8th Cir. 2009). 

The failure to demonstrate irreparable harm is an independently sufficient ground to deny a stay. 

Watkins Inc. v. Lewis, 346 F.3d 841, 844 (8th Cir. 2003).

The ADE and SBE first argue that states suffer irreparable harm when they are prevented 

from enforcing state law and that the Court’s modification order “effectively enjoins” the State of 

Arkansas from enforcing its current school choice law. In response, LCSD states that the state law 

presently at issue—the 2017 Act—explicitly recognizes the right of a school district subject to a 

valid court order to request and receive an exemption from participating in school choice. LCSD

argues that, following the ADE and SBE’s logic, “federal courts would be powerless to grant relief 

in the face of a claim that a given state statute or policy denies individuals their ‘constitutional 

right . . . to attend a unitary school system.’” (ECF No. 79, p. 14).

The Court disagrees that the ADE and SBE would suffer irreparable harm without a stay. 

Despite the ADE and SBE’s conclusory assertion that the modification order “effectively enjoins” 

the State of Arkansas from enforcing its school choice law, the Court took no such action. The 

Court’s modification order is not “an order [that] has the ‘practical effect’ of granting or denying 

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an injunction . . . [that] should be treated as such.” Abbott v. Perez, ___ U.S. ___, 138 S. Ct. 2305, 

2319 (2018). The modification order granted no injunctive relief at all, but merely modified an 

existing decree to satisfy the newly added requirements of the 2017 Act so that the parties to the 

Turner Decree could continue fulfilling their obligations under it. Moreover, the modification 

order took no action as to the 2017 Act, which is still in force and applicable to a vast majority of 

Arkansas public school districts. The modification order has had no impact on the State of 

Arkansas’ ability to enforce its duly enacted school choice law, and Arkansas is indeed free to 

continue doing so. Thus, the modification order cannot be said to have enjoined—effectively or 

otherwise—the State of Arkansas from enforcing its school choice law.

The ADE and SBE also argue that parents—who, but for the modification order, would 

have utilized school choice to transfer their children from LCSD to another school district—will 

suffer irreparable harm absent a stay. As an initial matter, the Court believes that this argument is 

meritless and should not be considered because parents of LCSD students are neither parties to 

this case, nor have they brought the instant motion for a stay. Governing caselaw instructs that the 

“irreparable harm” factor concerns whether the “[stay] applicant” will suffer irreparable harm 

absent a stay, see Hilton, 481 U.S. at 776, and the ADE and SBE are the only entities presently 

moving for a stay. Accordingly, the Court finds that it cannot consider harm claimed by 

individuals or entities other than the ADE and SBE for this analysis. However, even assuming 

arguendo that claimed irreparable harm to non-party, non-applicant parents is a proper 

consideration, the Court finds that the claimed harm is insufficient to satisfy the “irreparable harm” 

factor. 

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In support of their position, the ADE and SBE offer an affidavit from one parent of students

who currently reside within LCSD, although those students attend private school.7 ECF No. 75-2. 

That parent attests that her children have never attended school at a LCSD school. The affiant 

parent further states that the costs of enrolling her children in private school “has placed a financial 

strain on [her] family,” though she does not elaborate on this claim or provide any specific details 

to explain the level of “financial strain.” The affiant, likewise, states that she and her husband 

believe that their children will not receive a quality education in LCSD. She further attests that if 

her children are not permitted to take part in school choice and leave LCSD, her family will “have 

to make the decision to continue educating them in private school, which will continue the financial 

strain on [the] family” or homeschool them if unable to afford private school. 

The ADE and SBE argue that, absent a stay, parents will be irreparably harmed because 

they will not be able to utilize school choice for the upcoming school year. The ADE and SBE 

argue that this harm is not speculative, but the Court disagrees. The reasons offered—by the state 

on behalf of parents and by one specific parent—for desiring a transfer are in fact speculative, as 

they are based either solely on the belief that a student will suffer from poorer grades or unsafe 

conditions unless allowed to transfer to another school district. However, there is nothing to 

indicate that any particular student’s circumstances would indeed change if allowed to transfer to 

another school district or that the student or parent would suffer irreparable harm otherwise. Thus, 

the Court finds that these speculative harms are insufficient to show irreparable harm. See S.J.W. 

v. Lee’s Summit R-7 Sch. Dist., 696 F.3d 771, 779 (8th Cir. 2012) (rejecting speculative harm in 

 7 The ADE and SBE, likewise, reference testimony given in an earlier preliminary injunction hearing by a parent of 

former LCSD students detailing a troubling medical event one of the children suffered while attending LCSD. These 

children, however, are no longer LCSD students, having previously received transfers to another school district. There 

is no indication or allegation that these students are going to be sent back to LCSD in light of the modification order. 

Accordingly, it appears that regardless of how this matter proceeds, this parent and her children could not be harmed, 

as they are now attending school outside LCSD.

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an irreparable-harm analysis). Likewise, in regard to the affidavit provided by the ADE and SBE 

from one LCSD parent which cites the “financial strain” of enrolling her children in private school 

as a means to keep them out of the LCSD, the Court recognizes that this “financial strain,” to the 

extent it is a harm, is self-imposed. Under the present circumstances, any financial concerns 

associated with enrolling a child in private school could be avoided by either homeschooling the 

child or sending the child to LCSD.

Moreover, and perhaps most important of all, the modification order does not deprive 

parents of the ability to transfer their children from LCSD to another school district. Even without 

the option of school choice, parents may transfer their children from LCSD by moving their 

residence within the desired school district, by seeking and obtaining approval from LCSD’s 

school board for a transfer based on education or compassionate purposes, or by placing their child 

in a private school or in homeschool. Even assuming arguendo that parents would suffer some 

degree of harm from an inability to use school choice for the upcoming school year, this harm 

would not be irreparable because other transfer mechanisms are currently available for use. 

Accordingly, the Court finds that, to the extent that claimed harm to parents is a proper 

consideration, it is insufficient to demonstrate irreparable harm absent a stay of the Court’s 

modification order pending appeal.

In sum, the Court finds that the ADE and SBE have failed to show that they would be 

irreparably harmed absent a stay of the modification order pending appeal. Accordingly, the Court 

finds that this factor weighs against granting the requested stay. Moreover, as previously noted, a 

movant’s failure to show irreparable harm is an independent basis upon which to deny a motion 

for a stay, and the Court finds accordingly that the instant motion should be denied for that reason. 

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Watkins Inc., 346 F.3d at 844; Brady, 640 F.3d at 794 (Bye, J., dissenting). However, the Court 

will nonetheless complete its analysis and address the remaining factors.

C. Harm to Non-Moving Party

The third factor asks whether the non-moving party would be substantially harmed if a stay 

is entered. Hilton, 481 U.S. at 776.

The ADE and SBE argue that LCSD will suffer no harm if a stay is issued for the pendency 

of the appeal. The ADE and SBE state that, on August 8, 2018, the Court denied LCSD’s motion 

for preliminary injunctive relief in this case after finding that LCSD failed to demonstrate that it 

would suffer irreparable harm absent an injunction. The ADE and SBE argue that LCSD’s 

situation has not changed and, thus, LCSD cannot show that it would suffer irreparable harm now 

if a stay is granted. 

LCSD argues in response that both it and Plaintiffs would suffer irreparable harm if a stay 

is entered. LCSD notes that the Court’s August 8, 2018 denial of preliminary injunctive relief 

noted that LCSD being compelled to violate the Turner Decree by participating in school choice 

“could constitute harm in certain circumstances . . . [but] this notion is predicated on the idea that 

the Court will eventually grant LCSD’s Motion for Declaratory Relief.” (ECF No. 64, p. 6). LCSD

argues that the Court has since granted its motion for declaratory relief and modified the Turner

Decree. Thus, LCSD argues that granting a stay of the modification order “would pose a 

cognizable danger of future violation that would be more than a mere possibility.” (ECF No. 79, 

p. 17) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Upon consideration, the Court finds that LCSD would suffer substantial harm with a stay. 

LCSD correctly notes that, in denying LCSD’s prior motion for preliminary injunctive relief, the 

Court opined that LCSD’s argument that it would suffer irreparable harm if forced to participate 

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in school choice hinged on the speculative notion that its underlying relief would be granted. The 

modification order granted LCSD’s underlying request for relief, finding that modification of the 

Turner Decree was proper because the 2017 Act presented an unforeseeable change in law that 

made the Turner Decree unworkable. If the Court were to reverse course now and stay its ruling, 

LCSD would suffer substantial harm by being required to participate in school choice, thereby 

violating the terms of the Turner Decree by allowing interdistrict student transfers to a non-resident 

school district where the percentage of enrollment for the transferring student’s race exceeds that 

percentage in the student’s resident district.8 Accordingly, the Court finds that this factor weighs 

slightly against granting the requested stay.

D. Public Interest

The fourth factor asks whether a stay pending appeal lies within the public interest. Hilton, 

481 U.S. at 776.

The ADE and SBE argue that the public interest favors allowing the State of Arkansas to 

enforce its school choice law and allowing parents to continue to place their children in the schools 

that best meet their needs. LCSD argues in response that the public interest favors preserving the 

constitutional right of students to attend a desegregated school. 

The public certainly has an interest in seeing that duly enacted laws are carried out. New 

Motor Vehicle Bd. of Cal. v. Orrin W. Fox Co., 434 U.S. 1345, 1351 (1977); Waters v. Ricketts, 

48 F. Supp. 3d 1271, 1279 (D. Neb. 2015), aff’d, 798 F.3d 682 (8th Cir. 2015). However, the 

protection of constitutionally protected rights necessarily serves the public interest. Phelps-Roper 

v. Nixon, 545 F.3d 685, 690 (8th Cir. 2008) (“[I]t is always in the public interest to protect 

constitutional rights.”), overruled on other grounds, Phelps-Roper v. City of Manchester, Mo., 697 

 8 The Court makes no finding as to whether the harm LCSD would suffer with a stay is irreparable. The relevant 

Hilton factor asks only if the non-moving party would be “substantially harmed” with a stay. Hilton, 481 U.S. at 776.

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F.3d 678 (8th Cir. 2012). Students have a constitutional right to attend a desegregated public 

school. See Jackson v. Marvell Sch. Dist. No. 22, 389 F.2d 740, 746 (8th Cir. 1968); Cato v. 

Parham, 297 F. Supp. 403, 410 (E.D. Ark. 1969) (noting students’ constitutional right to be 

educated in racially non-discriminatory schools). Thus, the Court finds that the public’s interest 

in seeing the enforcement of its duly enacted laws is secondary to the public’s interest in protecting 

students’ constitutional right to attend desegregated public schools. Accordingly, this factor 

weighs against granting the requested stay.

E. Conclusion

As discussed above, the Court finds that the balance of the Hilton factors, viewed in their

totality, weigh against granting the ADE and SBE’s requested stay. Accordingly, the Court 

concludes that the instant motion should be denied.

III. CONCLUSION

For the aforementioned reasons, the Court finds that the ADE and SBE’s motion for a stay 

of the modification order pending appeal (ECF No. 75) should be and hereby is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 8th day of March, 2019.

/s/ Susan O. Hickey 

Susan O. Hickey

Chief United States District Judge

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