Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-12
Court Orders
Norfolk School
Desegregdtion
Similar Decision
For Newport News
To Be Appealed

Walter E. Hoffman today or
dered the Norfolk School Board
to abolish segregation in the
public schools by August Is.
Judge Hoffman took the &C
ton without leaving the bench
at the conclusion of a two-hour
hearing of a degeneration suit
brought against the Norfolk
School Board by parents of
Negro pupils.
The judge, in a decision from
the bench at the end of a one
day hearing in Newport News
yesterday. held the shipbuilding
city must desegregate its public
schools. effective August IS. At
torney General j. Lindsay AL
mond. jr.. said the State would
appeal the decision.
Judge Hoffman said. however,
he would permit gradual inte-
grafton in the lowest grades OF
the elementary and high schools
provided the General Assembly
in the meantime does something
constructive" toward compliance
with the Supreme Courts deseg-
regation decree, or If the New
port News School Board evolves
a plan for indignation.
j Both the Norfolk and Newport
News suits stemmed from actions
filed by Negro pupils and their
parents last spring. charging
they were denied equal protec-
ton Of the law. They asked the
district court to enjoin the school
boards of the two cities from
separating the pupils by race.
Refused TO Dismiss Suits
| Judge Hoffman last month de-
MED motions by State and local
authorities to dismiss the suits
He ruled at that time the State S
new pupil placement law. enact
ed at the September special ses-
sion of the General Assembly as
a key link in the administra-
TONS no-integration policy, was
unconstitutional on its face"
He noted yesterday in his
opinion that the Newport News
School Board had conceded il
had formulated no plan for COM
pliance with the Supreme Court S
deSegregation decree. He point
ed out that the board logically
looked to the General Assembly
| for guidance and that the GEN.
eral Assembly had enacted legis-
lation which prevented the board
from complying with the high
courts decree.
Il appreciate the fact that
school boards and school super
intendents are in an unenviable
position. he said. Under State
law. the schools will be closed if
the boards comply with the SUI
preme Court ruling. And if they
do not comply. they subject
themselves to the process OF con-
tempt.
+ Since the board had made nc
attempt to desegregate the
schools. Judge Hoffman said
there was nothing the court
could do but restrain the de-
PENDANTS from refusing TO admit
TO any school under their super
vision any child qualified to enter
such school
He said. however. tf3 court
can prov ids for gradual DIT segre-
cation IL good faith is shown.
Not Insurmountable
In his remarks preliminary tC
the decision. Judge Hoffman saic
the problem in Newport News lis
not an entirely insurmouIitable
one"
Only one school would be af-
fected to any considerable extent
by an Interrogation order. he
said. That is the Walter Reed
Elementary School. now attended
by 523 white children.
Judge Hoffman noted that the
school is on the fringe of a rap
idly changing population area
now becoming predominantly
Negro.
If the decision is suspended by
action OF an appellate court. tho
Judge SAID the effective date oi
Indignation in Newport News
would be deferred one year
Judge Hoffman said it would be
unwise to shift pupils during q
school term.
Mr.. Almond and T. Justin
Moore. ST., of Richmond. who
presented closing arguments. hao
asked for more time to begin
desegregation. Attorneys for the
plaintiffs argued the school
board had had ample time--al-
most three years since the Su-
lpreme Courts decision-to make
a start toward desegration.
4 Fear Delinquency
During yesterdays hearing, five
public officials told the judge ar
abrupt end of racial segregation
lin the schools would wreck the
school system and increase juve-
mile delinquency.
City Manager Joseph c. Big
gins testified that indignation
would present serious problem:
of economic. social and mora
ASPECTS which would undoubtedly
hurt the welfare Of the entire
city"
!, Other officials who testified
were Philip w. Murray. school,
board chairman: r. o. Nelson
superintendent of schools; Mayor
Robert B. Smith and Police Chief
William +. Peach.
Mr.. Nelson told the court thai
Newport News schools have 3,60s
white pupils and 5,207 Negro
pupils. He said in view Of the
feelings OF The city's leadership