Document: 427 U.S. 424 96 S.Ct. 2697 49 L.Ed.2d 599 PASADENA CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION et al., Petitioners,v.Nancy Anne SPANGLER al. No. 75-164. Argued April 27-28, 1976. Decided June 28, Syllabus In 1968, respondents, Pasadena, Cal., high school students and their parents, brought a purported class action against various officials seeking injunctive relief from allegedly unconstitutional segregation of the public schools in Pasadena. The United States intervened as party plaintiff pursuant to § 902 Civil Rights Act 1964, which provides that upon intervention "the shall be entitled same if it had instituted action." Ultimately 1970 District Court, holding defendants' educational policies procedures violated Fourteenth Amendment, enjoined defendants failing adopt desegregation plan, ordered them submit plan for desegregating Pasadena would provide beginning with 1970-1971 year there no "with majority any minority students," retained jurisdiction so see such was carried out. did not appeal this decree, subsequently submitted "Pasadena Plan," approved by Court. 1974, however, petitioner officials, successors original defendants, filed motion Court modify order eliminating "no majority" requirement, whose meaning admittedly unclear all parties, dissolving injunction, terminating court's jurisdiction, or, alternative, obtain approval petitioners' proposed modifications Plan." denied motion, largely on grounds petitioners failed comply order, literal compliance requirement occurred only initial Plan's" operation, number an inflexible one applied anew each even though subsequent changes racial mix were caused factors might considered responsible. Appeals affirmed, but reservations, felt heed, view lifetime commitment substance requirement. Held: 1. States' presence case 1964 ensures is moot, although moot respondent parents who named plaintiffs because these have graduated system thus they longer stake outcome litigation, has been certification unnamed still attending represented plaintiffs. Pp. 429-431. 2. Having adopted Plan" establishing racially neutral student assignment system, exceeded its authority enforcing require annual readjustment attendance zones school. 431-440. (a) Since post-1971 shifts makeup some resulted demographics Pasadena's residential pattern due normal people moving into, out of, around attributable segregative officials' part, neither nor "constitutionally required make year-by-year adjustments composition bodies once affirmative duty desegregate accomplished discrimination through official eliminated system." Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board Education, 402 1, 32, 91 1267, 1284, 28 554. 435-436. (b) fact unambiguous contrary intervening decision Swann, supra, that, being ambiguous, parties interpreted manner Court's ultimate interpretation, are factors, which, taken together, support modification decree. 437-438. (c) Appeals' disapproval sufficient remove case, since, assumed heed remand, remains despite affirmed denial amend subjected contempt violation decree notwithstanding reasonable proper objections On phase reversal respect treatment portion order. 438-440. 9 Cir., 519 F.2d 430, vacated remanded. Phil C. Neal, Chicago, Ill., petitioners. Sol. Gen. Robert H. Bork, Washington, D. C., States. [Amicus Curiae Information page 426 intentionally omitted] Mr. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion 1 several joined Central California City operates Unified School (PUSD). This PUSD, officials. Before answer, moved intervene Title IX, 902, 78 Stat. 266, 42 U.S.C. 2000h-2. granted motion. Later, court defendant Board's strike those portions complaint sought include other areas system: elementary schools, junior special schools. ruling subject interlocutory appeal, 1292(a)(1), Ninth Circuit. That reversed demand systemwide reinstated. 415 1242 (1969). No further review sought. 2 Following remand decision, held trial allegations unconstitutionally segregated. January 23, 1970, entered judgment concluded violative Amendment. "enjoined prepare correct imbalance at levels District." addition requiring provisions staff construction location facilities, 3 "(t)he assignments or before commences September District, senior school, students." 311 F.Supp. 501, 505 (1970). went retain 4 "jurisdiction cause continue observe evaluate plans execution regard hiring, promotion, teachers professional members, Ibid. 5 voted appeal. They thereupon set devise demanded February March 10, finding "to conformance Judgment herein 1970." App. 96. implemented following September, under terms ever since. 6 petitioners, action, Petitioners four changes: modified eliminate students"; injunction dissolved; terminate "retained jurisdiction" over actions Board; 7 hearings motions and, entirety. May 3, discussed reasons refusing requested 375 1304 (1974). appealed A divided panel 430 (1975), three members expressed substantial reservations about implications orders bore future operations Judges Ely Chambers apparently satisfied Judge separate opinions, content affirm case. Wallace dissented affirmance. Because seemed present issues importance regarding extent district imposing designed achieve unitary we certiorari. 423 945, 355, 46 276 (1975). We vacate proceedings. 8 * must first deal contention exists controversy our jurisdiction. assert since never certified suit Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. moot. Respondents advance theories why Counsel individual argue litigation until now treated failure Rule 23 merely absence meaningless "verbal recital" counsel insists should effect facts But arguments overlook whom originally undertook represent outcome. As clearly And while may wish individuals do interest litigation. Except States, think Sosna Iowa, 419 393, 95 553, 532 (1975); Indianapolis Comm'rs Jacobs, 420 128, 848, 43 74 10 remain private however. section provision somewhat little legislative history shed light intention Congress. statute properly read authorize disappearance certification, long participation serves statutory purpose, II 11 dissolve PUSD enrolled. refused request, continued. based large part conclusion turn premised reorganized patterns conformity court-approved Plan, obtained plan's operation. year, black enrollment 50% Of school's total enrollment. next Black figure; time hearing five 32 regular ostensibly minority" It maintain indicated abused discretion grant much petitioner's pertained aspect order.1 wrong. 12 us issue validity judgment, predecessors it. existed PUSD; reorganization guidelines defendants; inclusion contain insuring became embodied All questions whether denying when 1974 then 13 established parties. opposing request Government jointly stipulated aware "of violations Plan up including present." These were, course, "slipped compliance"2 stipulation understood reassignment pupils accommodate changing demographic e candidly admits brief here. Brief 16 n. 22. 14 argued drafted implement either.3 made clear Its understanding quite different response counsel, judge stated his "meant me least during my Pasadena." 270. 15 When court, measured what said 554 (1971), scope judicially created available remedy inconsistency between two clear. interpretation appears contemplate "substantive constitutional right (to a) particular degree balance mixing" expressly disapproved. Id., 24, 1280. apparent, hearing, viewed "starting point process shaping remedy," appropriate; 25, S.Ct., 1280, instead "inflexible requirement," Ibid., population within zone believed impose could Whatever basis belief cautioned "it recognized limits" beyond go dismantle dual system. 1282. limits tied necessity authorities segregation, "(a)bsent ordering basis." While found unappealed afforded adoption PUSD. done authority. 17 concluding, important note does involve. call "step time" definition incomplete inception. See, E. g., Montgomery 395 225, 89 1670, 263 Nor embodying specific revisions well later appraisal discrete achieved "unitary system" Brown 349 294, 300, 75 753, 756, 99 L.Ed. 1083 (1955). general contests implementation "achieve determining admission nonracial basis," 300-301, 756. 18 There also showing focused lower courts chargeable defendants. rejected assertion movement so-called "white flight" traceable itself. "trends evidenced closely approximate state-wide trends both segregated desegregated." F.Supp., 1306. came exceed During 4-year period randomly area. human migration demographs patterns, resultant attributed comes squarely sort situation foreseen Swann: 19 "It follow communities served (unitary) systems will demographically stable, growing, mobile society, few so. Neither constitutionally U.S., 31-32, 1283-1284. 20 yet totally contemplated quotation Swann. been, example, dispute specifying hiring promoting administrators. See 384 846 (1974), vacated, 537 1031 (1976). undercut force principle underlying quoted language neutrality disputes objective. PSUD rearrange ensure desired maintained perpetuity. For having perceived fully performed function providing appropriate previous discriminatory patterns. 21 At judges contentions sound, barred asserting predecessors' Court.4 observation overlooks well-established rules governing final equity. Pennsylvania Wheeling & Belmont Bridge Co., How. 421, 435 (1856); Swift 286 106, 52 460, 76 999 (1932); System Federation Wright, 364 642, 81 368, (1961). latter said: 22 "There sound judicial circumstances, law fact, obtaining issuance changed, new ones arisen. source power course often requires continuing supervision issuing always willingness apply powers processes behalf equitable relief." 647, 371. Even mean declared would, previously, supra. ambiguity itself, ultimately placed added factor modification. together sufficiently compelling 24 real among observations far.5 Indeed, points out, disapproved statement rule either continuing, rigid insistence balance. 37. adds disapprovals view, proper, concludes 25 here disagree Government. Violation issued can result punishment form fine imprisonment. Federal 65(d) concomitantly "(e)very granting every restraining . terms; describe detail, reference document, act acts restrained .." rightly serious traditionally orders, severity imposed violation, 65 reasonably detailed. 26 related concern outstanding obeyed so, constitutionality challenged, disobedience federal subjects violator claim upheld. Mine Workers, 330 258, 67 677, 884 (1947). likewise State free similar respecting courts. Walker Birmingham, 388 307, 87 1824, 1210 (1967). cases own earlier Howat Kansas, 258 181, 277, 66 550 (1922): 27 instance determine question law, error orderly review, itself higher respected, lawful authority, punished." 190, 281. necessarily counterpart commands obey commands, eminently reversed. persons prosecute issui then, there, definitive disposition objections. Here Circuit opinions strongly intimated erred nonetheless toto 29 plainly insofar alter equally envisioned continuation implicit assumption "disapproval" member opinion. Instead, reversing III 30 returned Appeals, opportunity reconsider unnecessary consider contentions: respects terminated; suggested accepted alternative plan. record reflects 1974. oral argent Solicitor General Government's if, represented, complied years, probably lifting Tr. Oral Arg. 28-31. determination noncompliance must, comport today, depend factual determinations far better position than instance. Accordingly remanded proceedings inconsistent 31 So ordered. STEVENS took consideration 33 MARSHALL, BRENNAN joins, dissenting. 34 I cannot agree refusal erroneous. "racial action," abuse major 35 dying described 3-year opposition Education spirit letter Plan. cooperation permits realistic measurement success failure." 1304, 1308 (CD Cal. 1974) (footnote omitted). Moreover, mind "would very likely rapid resegregation." (CA9 1975). "abundant evidence judge, exercise discretion, 'dangers' induced infringements diminished dissolution Order." 434. 36 mandated founded Plan's students. According follows soon scheme successful, short period, fulfilling objectives, relaxed irrelevant " 'unitary' status administrators." Ante, 2705 5. 37 ruling, unwarrantedly extended "(n)either Once 1284 (emphasis added). recognizes hand desegregated compelled adjust conform hand, recognize Until established, broad includes adjustment goal wholly sooner achieved. 38 insisting abandon scrutiny "root branch," Green County Board, 391 438, 88 1689, 1694, 716 (1968), aspects administrators, again manifest seems singularly unwise risk result. 39 "(o)nce shown, past wrongs broad, breadth flexibility inherent remedies." 15, 1276. recognizes, 432, Thus, "right violation." acted modification, entirely remedied. Particularly, given normally accorded fashioning remedies, reason prior entire remedied achieved.1 compel unless conditions changed "dangers, substantial, become attenuated shadow." Co.,2 119, 464, (1932). I, one, say attenuation place "surely sign death warrant objectives." 1309. Accordingly, dissent. cited supplying "could 434 Chambers, concurring result, relied he "continuing homogenize" thought mandatory terminated. 440. 433 3. disagreement least, suggestions attempts stay guideline changed. assessments reading However resolved, foreclosed challenging Infra, 440 (opinion J.); cf. Supra. urged, below us, perpetual valid consistent "unitary" plaintiffs, us. substance. argument, spontaneous disapprove suggests continuous redistricting "even After determined effectively Racial (has been) F.2d, 438 dissent opinion, acknowledge narrowness holding. 435. instance, intimates differently themselves product observes, involve attendance-zone calling "for 'step time' inception."

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