Federal Judge Dismisses Most Claims in Lawsuit Over Black Student’s Hairstyle Punishment
A Black high school student filed a lawsuit alleging that he was punished for refusing to modify his haircut by school officials on the basis of both gender and race. On Tuesday, a federal court rejected the majority of the claims in the case.
The Barbers Hill school district, located close to Houston, claimed that its regulation limiting male pupils’ hair length fosters discipline while teaching grooming and deference to authority. The verdict was another success in their cause.
However, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown questioned in his ruling if the school district’s regulation is more detrimental than beneficial.
Not everything that is disagreeable, inconvenient, or even dangerous qualifies as a legal transgression, much less a constitutional issue, according to Brown.
On Tuesday, the Associated Press contacted Allie Booker, George’s attorney, and the school system by phone and email to request comment.
For the most of the 2023–24 school year, George, then 18 years old, was not allowed to attend his normal high school classes because the school district claimed that his hair length went against its dress code. George was placed in an off-site disciplinary program or served an in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu.
         A BREAKDOWN OF THESE CASE FILED
Judge Dismisses Most Claims in Federal Lawsuit Filed by Black Texas Student Punished Over Hairstyle
A federal judge has dismissed the majority of claims in a lawsuit brought by Darryl George, an 18-year-old Black high school student, against the Barbers Hill school district in Texas. The lawsuit alleged racial and gender discrimination after George was punished for refusing to change his hairstyle, which the district claimed violated its dress code. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown did allow one claim of sex discrimination to proceed, related to the district’s lack of clear policies regarding hair length for boys compared to girls
- Background of the Case: George was barred from attending regular classes for most of the 2023-24 academic year due to his hairstyle, which he wore in locs. The school district argued that his hair length breached its grooming policy, which it claims promotes discipline and respect for authority. George’s lawsuit also cited the CROWN Act, a Texas law prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture and styles, asserting that the policy was enforced predominantly against Black students.
- Judge’s Rationale: In his ruling, Judge Brown expressed skepticism about whether the district’s hair regulations caused more harm than benefit, noting that not every undesirable policy constitutes a legal violation. He dismissed claims regarding violations of George’s due process rights under the 14th Amendment and removed several officials from the lawsuit, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The only surviving claim pertains to gender discrimination, as the district failed to justify its differing policies for boys and girls regarding hair length
- Legal Precedents and Implications: The ruling follows a state judge’s earlier decision that sided with the school district, affirming that its disciplinary actions did not violate the CROWN Act. Judge Brown referenced a 1970 case involving a similar hair length dispute in El Paso, suggesting that attempts to regulate hair length may disrupt educational environments more than the hairstyles themselves.