The Oyez Project Virtual Tour of the Supreme Court Building

Abstract

Argument: Monday, March 22, 1982
Decision: Wednesday, June 30, 1982
Issues: Civil Rights, Desegregation, Schools

Advocates

Kenneth O. Eikenberry (Argued the cause for the appellants)
Michael W. Hoge (Argued the cause for the appellees)

Facts of the Case

In 1978, a Seattle school district adopted a mandatory busing plan to integrate its schools. No court or administrative body found the district to be engaged in unlawful segregation. A statewide initiative adopted in 1978 mandated a neighborhood school policy. The policy provided for some exceptions including voluntary busing options and mandatory busing if so ordered by state or federal courts. The initiative blocked the implementation of Seattle's mandatory busing plan. School officials challenged the Washington government in federal court.

Question

Does the statewide initiative violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Conclusion

Yes. The initiative reordered the educational decisionmaking process by moving the power over busing for purposes of integration to state control. The state explicitly employed "the racial nature of a decision to determine the decisionmaking process." This kind of state action places an unconstitutional burden on racial minorities within the governmental process.

Supreme Court Justice Opinions and Votes (by Seniority)

Sort by Ideology
(More information here)
Decision: 5 votes for Seattle School District No. 1, 4 vote(s) against
Legal Provision: Equal Protection
Voted with the minority, joined Powell's dissent
Burger
Voted with the majority
Brennan
Voted with the majority
White
Voted with the majority
Marshall
Wrote the majority opinion
Blackmun
Wrote a dissent
Powell
Voted with the minority, joined Powell's dissent
Rehnquist
Voted with the majority
Stevens
Voted with the minority, joined Powell's dissent
O'Connor
Full Opinion by Justice Harry A. Blackmun

Cite this page

The Oyez Project, Washington v. Seattle School District No. 1, 458 U.S. 457 (1982),
available at: <http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1981/1981_81_9/>
(last visited ).