October Term 2006 · Docket 05-915
Can a school board use race to assign students after a desegregation order ends?
Parents dispute whether a school board may use race to assign students after a desegregation order ends.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
the sides that brought the case argue that race-based assignments are unconstitutional.
the opposing sides argue that race-based assignments promote integration.
Justice Ginsburg questioned the procedural history of the student's application.
Chief Justice Roberts inquired about potential damages claims.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves a school board's student assignment policy. The board used race to assign students. the sides that brought the case argue this violates the Constitution. the opposing sides argue the policy serves a compelling interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the race-based assignment policy.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the race-based assignment policy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue that using race to assign students violates the Equal Protection Clause.
the opposing sides argue that using race to assign students serves a compelling governmental interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked whether the student appealed a late application.
Chief Justice Roberts asked whether the student had a claim for damages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-17
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether school boards may use race in student assignments. It affects how districts manage integration. It shapes the scope of the Equal Protection Clause in education.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-17
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.