WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has thrown out the remainder of a lawsuit that attempted to halt the closure of 15 District of Columbia public schools.
Empower DC, the community group that had backed the lawsuit, had argued the closures discriminated against poor, minority and disabled students.
But Judge James Boasberg on Friday sided with city officials who argued the closures were made for a nondiscriminatory reason, to increase efficiency and improve education for all students.
Boasberg previously denied a request to temporarily halt the closures, writing that there was no evidence officials intended to discriminate by closing the schools. Boasberg tossed most of the lawsuit in October and the remaining discrimination claims on Friday.
A lawyer working with Empower DC, Johnny Barnes, said the ruling was expected and will be appealed.
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