The Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet is a Dallas Independent School District (DISD) magnet high school located in Dallas, Texas. Formerly the School of Government, Law, and Law Enforcement, it is a part of the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center. The school was renamed in honor of Judge Barefoot Sanders in 2009. Students and faculty refer to the school as the Law Magnet. The Law Magnet allow students to explore careers in government, law, and law enforcement. The school has three pathways: Criminal Justice, Government, and Pre-Law. Students have the option to enroll in the pathway of their choice upon enrolling in the school. The school provides students with a range of experiential learning activities, including project-based learning in the classroom, courtroom observations, and internships. These learning opportunities let students engage with local government, legal professions, and law enforcement in a variety of settings.
History
The Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet is the product of a landmark desegregation lawsuit initiated in the 1970s. The lawsuit, brought by Sam Tasby and others, sought to desegregate the Dallas Independent School District using the ruling from the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. This case, generally regarded as one of the most consequential in American history, declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court's ruling in the Brown v. Board case was fiercely resisted in much of the South and Dallas was no exception. The city's schools remained de facto segregated until the 1970s.
Using the precedent set by the Brown v. Board case, United States District Judge William M. Taylor ordered Dallas Independent School District (DISD) leaders to develop a plan to fully desegregate the Dallas school system. Judge Barefoot Sanders, a seasoned United States District Judge and legal counsel to President Lyndon B. Johnson, later took over Tasby's initial desegregation lawsuit. He developed a desegregation plan for the district and, in 1983, the Dallas school board agreed to implement it. Judge Sanders oversaw the slow transformation of DISD. The district remained under federal oversight until he declared it officially desegregated in 2003.
A major element of Sanders' desegregation plan for DISD was the creation of four magnet schools. The Law Magnet was created in 1977 and was originally combined with the School of Education and Social Services (Rosie M. Sorrells School of Education & Social Services). Judge Sanders later signed an order commanding the Townview Magnet Center be created to house the DISD magnet programs. However, it was not until 1995 that the Law Magnet and the five other DISD magnet programs were consolidated at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center. They have remained there ever since.
During the summer of 2009, the DISD Board of Trustees renamed the Law Magnet the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, in recognition of Judge Sanders' accomplishments in the field of civil rights and his significant impact on the city of Dallas. The formal naming ceremony was held on October 27, 2009.
Today, the Law Magnet honors Judge Sanders' intentions and is a model of an inclusive school, where all students—regardless of background—are given an opportunity to flourish and succeed.
Co-curricular activities
Although the Law Magnet does not offer competitive sports, (students have the option of competing under their local area high school), the school has a wide selection of competitive academic co-curricular activities. These include, but are not limited to:
Debate
Link Crew
Mock Trial
SkillsUSA
Model UN
Alumni
Notable alumni have attended respectable institutions of higher education such as: Brown, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell, Georgetown, Harvard University, MIT, Notre Dame, UPenn, Princeton University, Smith, SMU, Stanford, The University of Texas, Texas A&M, Wellesley, and Yale.
Many alumni of the school have gone on to become lawyers and federal law enforcement professionals.
Awards
2023 - Magnet Schools of America School of Excellence Winner for Merit. National merit awards are given to magnet schools that demonstrate a commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts, and strong parent and community involvement.
2023 - Dr. Nolan Estes Leadership Ascension Award: Principal Garet Feimster. The University of Texas at Austin College of Education recognizes educational leadership for their commitment to excellence.