LEGAL HISTORY

Parents Involved in Community Schools

Nature of the Case – This suit was brought by Parents Involved in Community Schools (PICS) challenging the defendants' ( Seattle School District ) impermissible use of race in deciding which students may attend specific high schools in the Seattle Public School system. PICS is comprised of parents from neighborhoods around the city whose children have been or will likely be denied admission to the high schools of their choice because of their race. Many of these parents have been dedicated supporters of Seattle public schools, including some who have volunteered hundreds of hours every year in support of its projects over the past 10 years. The school district's policy of making many of its student-admission decisions based on race violates both federal and state law. This suit seeks to stop that unlawful and discriminatory practice. PICS requests (1) a preliminary injunction prohibiting defendants from using race as a factor in student admissions in high schools pending the resolution of this lawsuit; (2) a declaratory judgment that defendant's race-based student admissions plan for high schools violates federal and state law and (3) an injunction permanently prohibiting defendants from using race as a factor in student admissions plan in high schools.

July 18, 2000 – Case is first filed in the U.S. Federal Courts.

March 28, 2001 – PICS Attorneys argued in front of Judge Barbara Rothstein in the U.S. Federal Courts.

April 6, 2001 – Judge Rothstein ruled for the Seattle School District (SSD).

December 04, 2001 – PICS Attorneys argued in front of three judges in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

April 16, 2002 – PICS won their appeal. An injunction was requested and granted that the SSD be prevented from using the racial tiebreaker when assigning 9th graders for the 2002-2003 school year.

June 17, 2002 – The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals withdraws their opinion and vacates injunction and the case is referred to the Washington State Supreme Court.

October 24, 2002 – PICS Attorneys argued in front of the Washington State Supreme Court.

June 26, 2003 – The Washington State Supreme Court ruled that it was OK for the SSD to use the racial tiebreaker.

December 15, 2003 – The same 3 three judges with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals listened to arguments again based on the 14th amendment.

July 27, 2004 - The 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals (two out of three) ruled once again that the use of the racial tiebreaker is illegal.

February 01, 2005 – It is ordered that the case be reheard by the enbanc court (11 judges) of the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals.

June 21, 2005 – PICS Attorneys argued in front of the enbanc 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals.

October 20, 2005 – The enbanc 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals rules in favor of the SSD.

January 19, 2006 – PICS petitions the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

June 5, 2006 – Petition Granted. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case on Monday, Dec. 4th, 2006.

June 28, 2007 - U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of PICS