mcneese board education argued april decided june petitioners negro students illinois public school brought suit federal district civil rights act vindicate rights fourteenth amendment alleged enrollment school consisted negroes whites exceptions negro students attended classes one part school separate apart whites compelled use entrances exits separate whites prayed equitable relief including registration racially integrated schools district dismissed complaint ground petitioners exhausted administrative remedies illinois law forbids racial segregation public schools prescribes administrative procedures enforcement prohibition appeals affirmed held judgment reversed pp relief civil rights act may defeated though relief first sought state law provided remedy monroe pape purposes override certain kinds state laws provide remedy state law inadequate provide federal remedy state remedy though adequate theory available practice provide remedy federal courts supplementary remedy state might provide purposes defeated held assertion federal claim federal must await attempt vindicate claim state pp case right alleged plainly federal origin nature underlying issue state law controlling litigation federal right way entangled skein state law must untangled federal case proceed means clear illinois law provides petitioners administrative remedy sufficiently adequate preclude prior resort federal protection federal rights pp raymond harth argued cause petitioners brief john rogers earl strayhorn jack greenberg constance baker motley james nabrit iii howard boman robert reiter argued cause filed brief respondents alex elson filed brief american civil liberties union amicus curiae urging reversal justice douglas delivered opinion suit invokes jurisdiction district civil rights act brought vindicate rights plaintiffs negro students illinois public school system complaint alleges chenot school clair county built attendance area boundaries drawn make exclusively negro school alleges due overcrowded conditions adjacent school centreville school district fifth sixth grade classes school containing white students transferred chenot kept segregated alleges enrollment chenot consists negroes whites whites group transferred centreville alleges negro students exception eight transferred centreville attend classes one part school separate apart whites compelled use entrances exits separate whites alleges chenot school segregated school conflict constitution prays equitable relief including registration plaintiffs racially integrated schools pursuant plan approved district respondents moved dismiss complaint ground inter alia plaintiffs exhausted administrative remedies provided illinois law district granted motion supp appeals affirmed case petition writ certiorari granted administrative remedy lower courts held plaintiffs must first exhaust contained illinois school code rev stat code residents school district whichever lesser file complaint superintendent public instruction alleging pupil segregated school account race superintendent notice school board puts complaint hearing within prescribed time hearing superintendent notifies parties decision decides allegations complaint substantially correct requests attorney general bring suit rectify practice final decision superintendent may reviewed courts moreover school code school district may file claim state aid unless files superintendent sworn statement school district complied constitutional statutory provisions outlawing segregation public schools see ill art viii school code respondents saying illinois law require superintendent refuse certify claims state aid finds particular school board practices segregation contends superintendent power withhold certificate practical matter previously indicated relief civil rights act may defeated relief first sought state law provided remedy stated monroe pape answer state law enforced give relief federal remedy supplementary state remedy latter need first sought refused federal one invoked every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress defeat purposes held assertion federal claim federal must await attempt vindicate claim state first congress created federal courts chief though always exclusive tribunals enforcement federal rights heads jurisdiction district start limited numerous beginning main concern security commercial intercourse parochial prejudice might endanger maritime commerce jugular vein thirteen need body law applicable throughout nation recognized every shade opinion constitutional convention recognition easy step entrust development law distinctive system courts administering doctrines following procedure subject nationalist influences strands local law woven case federal directed district refrain temporarily exercising jurisdiction suit brought state see railroad pullman thompson magnolia harrison naacp thus stayed hands federal district sought enjoin enforcement state administrative order enforcing state law since federal question reviewed case came hierarchy state courts burford sun oil variations theme numerous however present case underlying issue state law controlling litigation right alleged plainly federal origin nature vindicated brown board education federal right way entangled skein state law must untangled federal case proceed petitioners assert respondents depriving rights protected fourteenth amendment immaterial whether respondents conduct legal illegal matter state law monroe pape supra claims entitled adjudicated federal courts monroe pape supra gayle browder affirming supp borders rippy lane wilson smith allwright schnell davis affirming supp turner memphis moreover means clear illinois law provides petitioners administrative remedy sufficiently adequate preclude prior resort federal protection federal rights illinois school code petitioners file complaint alleging discrimination obtain subscription lesser residents school district superintendent required hold hearing matter determines allegations complaint substantially correct shall request attorney general apply appropriate circuit injunctive relief may necessary rectify practice complained emphasis added respondents urge however prior resort superintendent necessary revoke recognition school district guilty violating pupils fourteenth amendment rights recognition necessary condition state financial aid furthermore state aid received district unless submits sworn statement discriminate students account color creed race nationality respondents say superintendent certify district state aid determined sworn statement false apparently illinois cases held superintendent authority withhold funds received affidavit district even determines affidavit false event withholding state aid best indirect sanction fourteenth amendment rights federal rights subject tenuous protection prior resort state proceeding necessary see hillsborough cromwell reversed footnotes general arising jurisdiction conferred federal courts first instance passage judiciary act stat see hart wechsler federal courts federal system frankfurter landis business pp see note rev yet congress creates head federal jurisdiction entails responsibility adjudicate claim basis state law diversity citizenship true meredith winter hold difficulties perplexities state law reason referral problem state pointed public policy interest served withholding petitioners benefit jurisdiction congress created purpose availed exercised subject limitations traditionally justify courts declining exercise jurisdiction possess remit parties state courts delay disposition litigation pending two years ready decision penalize petitioners resorting jurisdiction entitled invoke absence special circumstances warrant refusal exercise held kline burke construction apart contests res pennsylvania williams suit personam based diversity citizenship continue federal even though suit cause action started state free proceed way time without reference proceedings whenever judgment rendered one courts pleaded effect judgment determined application principles res adjudicata action still pending orderly exercise jurisdiction determine question fact law arising progress case rule therefore become generally established action first brought personam seeks personal judgment another action cause another jurisdiction precluded well stated judge murrah stapleton mitchell supp appeal dismissed pursuant stipulation yet like believe wherever federal courts sit human rights federal constitution always proper subject adjudication right decline exercise jurisdiction simply rights asserted may adjudicated forum justice harlan dissenting burford sun oil said although federal equity jurisdiction particular proceeding may sound discretion whether jurisdiction invoked ground diversity citizenship otherwise refuse enforce protect legal rights exercise may prejudicial public interest citing dern public interest federal courts equity exercise discretionary power proper regard rightful independence state governments carrying domestic policy citing pennsylvania williams assuming federal district jurisdiction matter sound equitable discretion declined exercise jurisdiction apparent face complaint case quite atypical others come chenot school student body includes white negro students almost equal numbers none petitioners others purport represent refused enrollment school alleged discriminatory practices relate rather manner particular school district formed way internal affairs school administered matters federal courts initially become embroiled exploration correction need much better left local authority first instance nothing leaves room serious doubt efficacy administrative remedy illinois provided text statute set forth appendix opinion fact superintendent public instruction possesses corrective power request attorney general enforce findings appropriate proceedings opinion leave administrative proceeding sanctionless compare alkali export assn lane wilson serve remove case exhaustion requirements burford superintendent refuses activate attorney general decision contrary one subject judicial review suggested attorney general also compelled act improperly refused must course assumed two responsible public officials fully perform sworn duty moreover terms statute among things provides use compulsory process strongly attest fact administrative remedy intended serious business exercise might abort fulfillment administrative remedy otherwise regarded deficient fact takes minimal number school district residents initiate complaint superintendent hardly deemed untoward unduly burdensome requirement proceeding surely finds strong practical even though indirect sanction ante power superintendent least make difficult school guilty racial discrimination obtain state financial aid either revoking recognition school district ante suggested us respondents attorneys refusing certify school state aid finally slow hold unavailing administrative remedy afforded state long brown board education outlawed constitution statutes racial discrimination public schools since brown passed implementing legislation drawn question litigation appendix unwilling assume solemn constitutional legislative pronouncements illinois mean anything less say rights assured fourteenth amendment fully promptly vindicated state petitioners make good grievances affirm appendix opinion justice harlan upon filing complaint superintendent public instruction executed duplicate subscribed names addresses least residents school district whichever lesser alleging pupil excluded segregated school account color race nationality religion religious affiliation employee applicant employment assignment school district questioned concerning color race nationality religion religious affiliation subjected discrimination reason thereof behalf school board district superintendent public instruction shall promptly mail copy complaint secretary clerk school board superintendent public instruction shall fix date less days date filing complaint hearing upon allegations therein may also fix date hearing whenever reason believe discrimination may exist school district reasonable notice time place hearing shall mailed secretary clerk school board first subscriber complaint superintendent public instruction may designate assistant conduct hearing receive testimony concerning situation complained complainants may represented hearing one number counsel party shall privilege cross examining witnesses superintendent public instruction hearing officer appointed shall power subpoena witnesses compel attendance require production evidence relating relevant matter act circuit superior state judge thereof either term time vacation upon application superintendent public instruction hearing officer appointed may discretion compel attendance witnesses production books papers records memoranda giving testimony superintendent public instruction hearing officer appointed conducting investigation holding hearing authorized act attachment contempt otherwise manner production evidence may compelled said superintendent public instruction hearing officer appointed may cause depositions witnesses within state taken manner prescribed law like depositions civil actions courts state end compel attendance witnesses production books papers records memoranda testimony shall taken oath administered hearing officer formal rules pertaining evidence judicial proceedings shall apply superintendent public instruction shall provide competent reporter take notes testimony either party desiring transcript hearing shall pay cost transcript hearing officer shall report summary testimony superintendent public instruction shall determine whether allegations complaint substantially correct superintendent public instruction shall notify parties decision determines shall request attorney general apply appropriate circuit injunctive relief may necessary rectify practice complained provisions administrative review act approved may amendments modifications thereof rules adopted pursuant thereto shall apply govern proceedings judicial review final decision rendered superintendent public instruction pursuant section cases mannings board public instruction borders rippy school boards taken affirmative steps whatever desegregate schools orleans parish school board bush gibson board public instruction arising school segregation statutes books wide mark circumstances case section school code illinois provides part state aid claim may filed district unless clerk secretary school board executes files superintendent public instruction forms prescribed sworn statement district complied requirements section regard pupils account color creed race nationality early illinois people mayor alton construing art viii illinois constitution held complaint relator children excluded account color public school said city located near residence required attend school located mile half distant residence established exclusively colored children complaint met showing schools established colored children said city equal surpass educational facilities schools established said city white children law common council said city right establish different schools white children colored children said city exclude colored children schools established white children even though schools established colored children furnished educational facilities equal superior schools established white children section school code illinois provided since pupil shall excluded segregated school account color race nationality sections school code enacted provide school officer person excludes aids excluding public schools account color child entitled benefits school shall fined less whoever threat menace intimidation prevents colored child entitled attend public school state attending school shall fined exceeding