Trump officials and Louisiana end a decades-old school desegregation order

A federal judge approved a joint motion by Louisiana and the U.S. Justice Department to dismiss a 1967 desegregation lawsuit in DeSoto Parish; officials said there have been no disputes among the parties since 2014.

A federal judge approved a joint motion from Louisiana and the U.S. Justice Department to dismiss a 1967 school desegregation lawsuit involving DeSoto Parish schools. The case led to a 1970 court order requiring the district to eliminate segregation and report regularly, but officials say there has been little dispute in recent years. State leaders and Justice Department officials argued the court order is no longer needed. Civil rights groups have said long-standing court orders remain important to address the lasting effects of racial discrimination. Key facts: - The motion to dismiss concerned a lawsuit first filed in 1967 and a court order put in place in 1970. - U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. approved the joint dismissal request from Louisiana and the Justice Department. - Officials noted there had been no disputes among the parties since 2014 and said the decree was unnecessary. - Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill thanked President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for helping end the case, while civil rights groups voiced concerns about removing oversight. Summary: State and federal officials said the desegregation order was no longer needed and moved to dismiss the decades-old case. The judge approved the dismissal; the next legal step is undetermined at this time.