Dixon v. Alabama
Encyclopedia
Dixon v. Alabama, 294 F. 2d 150 (5th Cir. 1961) was a landmark 1961 U.S. federal court decision that spelled the end of the doctrine that colleges and universities could act in loco parentis
to discipline or expel their students. It has been called "the leading case on due process for students in public higher education".
The case arose when Alabama State College expelled six black students, including the named appellant, St. John Dixon, for unspecified reasons, but presumably because of their participation in civil rights demonstrations. The college, acting in loco parentis, expelled them without a hearing. The case was appealed to the Fifth Circuit, which held that a public college could not expel students without at least minimal due process.
The case was heard by a panel of John Minor Wisdom
, Richard Rives
, and Benjamin Franklin Cameron
. Cameron dissented from the opinion of the court.
Thurgood Marshall
was among the counsel for the appellants.
In loco parentis
The term in loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent"" refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent...
to discipline or expel their students. It has been called "the leading case on due process for students in public higher education".
The case arose when Alabama State College expelled six black students, including the named appellant, St. John Dixon, for unspecified reasons, but presumably because of their participation in civil rights demonstrations. The college, acting in loco parentis, expelled them without a hearing. The case was appealed to the Fifth Circuit, which held that a public college could not expel students without at least minimal due process.
The case was heard by a panel of John Minor Wisdom
John Minor Wisdom
John Minor Wisdom , one of the "Fifth Circuit Four", and a liberal Republican from Louisiana, was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit during the 1950s and 1960s, when that court became known for a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of...
, Richard Rives
Richard Rives
Richard Taylor Rives was an American lawyer and judge. A native of Alabama, he was the sole Democrat among the "Fifth Circuit Four," four judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the 1950s and 1960s that issued a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil...
, and Benjamin Franklin Cameron
Benjamin Franklin Cameron
Benjamin Franklin Cameron was a United States federal judge.Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Cameron received an A.B. from the University of the South in 1911 and an LL.B. from Cumberland University in 1914...
. Cameron dissented from the opinion of the court.
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
was among the counsel for the appellants.
External links
- JSTOR Constitutional Archives :Dixon v. Alabama St. Board of Education
- Complete decision