Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-01-16
VOL XIV. NO. %.
Supreme Court Orders
Oklahoma to Provide
Law Course for Negro

(NNPAl-Ths United States Su-
prems Court Monday decided that
Miss Ada Lois Sipusl, whose appli- |
cation for admission 10 the Uni |
vsrsity Of Oklahoma Law School
was rejected because she 10 eolOred,
must be furnished legal education
By the State Of Oklahoma as quick |
ly ~ II does for applicants Of any
other group.
The mandate Of the court was L. |
sued immediately and sent last
Monday by air mail to the Supreme
Court Of Oklahoma.
The case had been under con-
sidaration BY the high tribunal only |
since last Thursday. Its quick de- |
cision was Indicated by Justice |
Felix FEankfurter during argument
Of the ease last Thursday In his
questioning Of counsel for the State
~ 10 what action the State would
take II the case should be remandsd.
The State may take one Of four
courses 10 comply with the dsci-
sion: ~ Il may establish q segrs-
gated law school, (2l II may have
segregated instruction In the Uni
vsrsity Of Oklahoma, (S) Il may
have temporary mixed instruction
In the University Of Oklahoma until
Q separate institution 10 established,
or az Il may have mixed instrue-
ton.
Arguing the case Of Miss Lois
Sipuel, q graduate Of LAngstOn
University, who was denied admis-
sion TO the law school at the Uni
versity Of Oklahoma, ThurgoOd
Marshall, special counsel for the
National Association for the I'D
vancement Of ColOred People, urged
the high tribunal TO declare in its
opinion that the only way the State
Of Oklahoma can comply with the
United States Constitution Is by
admitting her to the existing white
law school.
Oklahoma Attorney Grilled
Subjecting counsel for the State
Of Oklahoma to q severe grilling As
to why the State did not admit
Miss Sipuel to the University Of
Oklahoma law school, the court in
dicated It's agreement in principle
with Mr.. Marshalps argument, but
did not indicate how far It would
20 in its opinion in establishing
rules to be followed in the admis-
sion Of col0rsd students TO white
State-suppOrted universities for
courses which are not offered at the
corresponding eolored institution.
In his argument Mr.. Marshall
stressed the difference In treatment
Of white and colOred applicants for
enrolment in the University Of
Oklahoma. A white applicant would
apply TO the registrar at the Uni
versity and would be admitted II he
met the moral and scholastic quail
heations, Mr.. Marshall said.
Under the decision Of the Okla
hOma Supreme Court in Miss Sip
uers case, Mr.. Marshall added, q
cOlorsd applicant would Be required
TO apply 10 tho Board Of Regents
for Higher Education and the board
would set up q law school when It
has notice that . eolored person
wished TO take Law and when there
has been . showing that there
would be patronage for the separate
law school.
II do not believe that this court
viii ever say that . Negro Is re-
quired TO ask for segregation or to
sit by and wait" for the establish
ment Of . separate school for his
training At some indefinite date,
which will be equal in all points
books, faculty, curriculum and ira
dition, Mr.. Marshall said
Mr.. Marshall asked the court to
take judicial notice Of the fact that
the Oklahoma legislature has met
since this case was pending and
nothing has happened"
He said he could not understand
how counsel for the Stats Of Okla
hOma could. In this day and year,
ask the United States Supreme
Court TO affirm OklahOma's policy
Of segregation when the very poll
ey Of segregation asked 10 Be af-
Ermsd denies petitioner her rights
under the Fourteenth Amendment"
Discussing the doctrine Of sep
arate but equal" facilities, Mr..
Marshall eontsndsd that Il was not
involved IN the case. He said he
understood that doctrine 70 mean
the comparison Of somSthing with
something. but In the instant case
ths State Of Oklahoma was Offering
eol0red studRnts nothing.
He charged that the decision IN
the Gaines ease has been whs.ttsd
dOwn" until Southern States nov
take tie position that thsy win
ossr the eolorsd student nothing
but plscs upon him the duty 60
apply 10 some outside agency and
take The chance Of getting his
rights at s0us other TINA
While counsel for the State Of
oklahsma were making their arRa-
ments. the justices repeatedly
asksd why Yrs II necessary for
Miss sipasl 10 have Co come all The
wav 20 thn United Stmaaa SuprRnm