Opinion ID: 323207
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Criminal damage to public property.

Text: 23 Upon entering the hearing room on November 15 each student was handed a document entitled 'Information for Disciplinary Hearing Board.' This paper advised each student that he or she was charged with violating Grambling College regulations 'No. 3' and 'Conduct of Groups' and Louisiana State Board of Education regulations 'Nos. 4 and 8,' all of which are set out in the margin. 3 Below the formal statement of charges, this document further elaborated the activities of these students alleged to constitute violations of the regulations. After this hearing all plaintiffs were suspended. 24 On November 27, 1972, plaintiffs instituted this action to enjoin their suspensions. Finding that the students had not been afforded the requisite procedural due process at the November 15-16 hearing, the district court granted a temporary restraining order and instructed the College Disciplinary Hearing Board to conduct new hearings. The second hearings began on November 30. The same charges were heard and sanctions of suspension were again imposed, although in some instances for a shorter duration. 25 The district court stayed these suspensions pending appeal to the Louisiana State Board of Education. The TRO was extended through the winter semester, but grades and credits were withheld pending appeal. On January 5, 1973, the district court ordered the State Board to hear the appeal on January 15, the first day of the new semester, and further instructed that Grambling officials would not be required to register the students for the next semester until so ordered by the court or the State Board. The January 5 order was twice modified on motion of defendants, to allow the State Board until January 18, and then until January 20, to hear the appeal and render its decision. The State Board, on the basis of a written transcript of the second hearings and the oral arguments of counsel, affirmed all findings and sanctions of the Disciplinary Board. 26 On January 30, 1973, the plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint amending their pending motion for preliminary injunction. The amendment requested that the court not only enjoin the suspensions but command defendants to reinstate the students in good standing, assist them in making up the time lost during the 1973 spring semester, grant credit for the winter semester completed under the TRO and expunge from their school records any mention of these disciplinary charges, hearings, and suspensions. The amended complaint also sought money damages for the mental humiliation, income loss and attorney's fees incurred by the plaintiffs. On May 15, 1973, based upon the record before the Disciplinary Board and State Board of Education, the district court issued a written opinion denying the motion for preliminary injunction and supplemental relief. There were no de novo hearings either by the State Board or the district court. 27