On February 3, 1962, in the Federal Court of Mississippi, Judge Mize declared, "the proof shows on this trial, and I find as a fact, that the University is not a racially segregated institution." On June 25, 1962, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans reversed this ruling, ordering that James Meredith should be admitted to the University of Mississippi.

excerpt from
Judge Mize's Opinion in
the Federal Court of Mississippi