Judge, districts meet in desegregation case

By The Associated Press

A federal judge says he'll hear requests in January from two Pulaski County school districts that say they're ready to be declared desegregated and released from court supervision.

U.S. District Judge Brian Miller on Wednesday said he'll hold a hearing Jan. 11 to hear the North Little Rock School District's request to be declared unitary, or desegregated. Miller said he'll hold a hearing with the Pulaski County Special School District on its request Jan. 25.

Both districts requested to be declared unitary in 2007. Miller, who was assigned the case earlier this year, met with the districts to discuss what issues remain.

A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year upheld a ruling that the Little Rock School District is now desegregated.