Fifth Circuit Four facts for kids

The "Fifth Circuit Four" were four important judges in the United States. They worked in the southern states during the 1950s and 1960s. These judges made decisions that were very important for the civil and political rights of African Americans. They helped make sure everyone had equal rights, no matter their race. Other judges, like Ben Cameron, disagreed with them. He believed states should have more power.

The Fifth Circuit Four: Fighting for Civil Rights

Meet the Judges

The "Fifth Circuit Four" were Chief Judge Elbert Tuttle and three other judges: John Minor Wisdom, John Robert Brown, and Richard Rives. Most of them were Republicans who believed in liberal ideas. Judge Rives was a Democrat. He was also close to a very important judge named Hugo Black from the Supreme Court.

Their Court and Its Reach

At that time, the Fifth Circuit court covered many states in the southern U.S. This included Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. It also covered the Panama Canal Zone. Since 1981, the court's area is smaller. It now only includes Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Why Were They Important?

These four judges became famous for their decisions. These decisions helped advance the rights of African Americans. They worked during a time when many laws separated people by race. This was called discrimination. The judges' rulings helped to end these unfair practices. They made sure the law treated everyone equally. Their work was a big part of the civil rights movement.

A Powerful Quote

Judge John Minor Wisdom wrote something very important in 1966. It was for a court case called United States v. Jefferson County Board of Education. He explained how the Constitution works when it comes to race:

"The Constitution is both color blind and color conscious. To avoid conflict with the equal protection clause, a classification that denies a benefit, causes harm, or imposes a burden must not be based on race. In that sense the Constitution is color blind. But the Constitution is color conscious to prevent discrimination being perpetuated and to undo the effects of past discrimination. The criterion is the relevancy of color to a legitimate government purpose."

This quote means that the Constitution does not see race when it comes to treating people fairly. But it also knows that race has been used to harm people in the past. So, it can be "color conscious" to fix those past wrongs. The goal is always to make sure everyone has equal rights.