A Case Study of the Federal Judiciary's Role in Court-Ordered Busing: The Professional and Personal Experiences of U.S. District Judge Robert R. Merhige, Jr.

Ronald J. Bacigal, University of Richmond
Margaret I. Bacigal, University of Richmond

Abstract

Throughout his twenty-year career, Judge Merhige has attracted national attention with a docket full of landmark cases. A forthcoming authorized biography recounts the highlights of Judge Merhige's controversial career. Excerpted in this article are two chapters dealing with the most notorious and turbulent period of Merhige's tenure. Merhige's candid reflections upon school integration and court-ordered busing reveal a major participant's perspective of a dramatic stage in this country's history.