Federal judge denies temporary restraining order for Darryl George
A federal judge has denied a request from Darryl George, a Black Texas high school student, to return to his school without facing punishment for his long hairstyle, which he says violates his rights under the CROWN Act. The decision, made on Friday, comes after George and his lawyers sought a court order to prevent the Barbers Hill school district from resuming disciplinary actions against him for not cutting his hair.
School policy and punishment
George, 19, had been in conflict with the Barbers Hill Independent School District over its dress code, which prohibits male students from having hair that extends below their shirt collar, eyebrows, or earlobes. He wears his hair in tied and twisted locs, a protective style that he says aligns with his cultural identity.
The student had already spent most of his junior year in in-school suspension due to his hairstyle and withdrew from Barbers Hill High School at the start of his senior year in August, anticipating continued punishment if he did not cut his hair. His legal team argued that the district’s policy discriminated against him based on race and gender.
Judge’s decision
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown denied George’s request for a temporary restraining order, citing that the request had come too late and that the school district was more likely to prevail on the remaining claims in the lawsuit. In August, the judge had already dismissed most of the claims filed by George and his mother, Darresha George, except for one relating to gender discrimination.
The judge’s ruling was coincidentally issued on George’s 19th birthday.
Legal and emotional fallout
George’s attorney, Allie Booker, did not immediately comment on the ruling, nor did a representative from the Barbers Hill school district. After facing a nervous breakdown at the thought of continuing his senior year under suspension, George transferred to another high school in the Houston area.
In court documents, attorneys for the school district argued that George no longer had standing to request the restraining order because he had transferred out of the district.
Defense of the school’s dress code
The Barbers Hill school district has defended its dress code, which it says aims to promote grooming, hygiene, discipline, and respect for authority, while also preventing disruptions and ensuring safety.
The CROWN Act and ongoing debate
George’s federal lawsuit also claims that his punishment violates the CROWN Act, a state law enacted in 2023 that prohibits race-based discrimination against hairstyles such as locs, braids, and twists.
The CROWN Act had been under discussion before George conflicted with the school and took effect in September 2023.
However, in February, a state judge ruled in favor of the school district, finding that its disciplinary actions did not violate the CROWN Act. The case continues to raise questions about race, culture, and identity in the context of school dress codes and student rights.