CHAMBERS COUNTY – On Wednesday, Chambers County Judge Chap B. Cain III issued a trial date in the case of Darryl George and the Barbers Hill Independent School District.
The trial is set for Thursday, Feb. 22 at the District Court in Anahuac.
KPRC 2 Reporter Re’Chelle Turner was in the courtroom but no cameras were allowed inside.
Attorney Allie Booker, who represents Darryl and his family, requested a temporary restraining order, also known as a TRO. Judge Cain did not grant the TRO because he believes the case can be resolved much quicker and he wants the case to go to trial.
During the hearing, the judge allowed attorney Booker and an attorney who represents the school district to discuss how much time they would need to go to trial. The pair spoke privately for a few minutes before a decision was made.
After the hearing, Turner asked Attorney Booker what will happen next in the case...
“We have a trial set on Feb. 22 and there will be finality on that day. We are working with the legislators to get affidavits from them because at the end of the day whenever you are asking a judge to decide whether or not a law applies to you, and it is a brand-new law and there is no case law, they have to look at the legislative intent. It will be a very restricted question that will be answered in this trial, and it’s going to be ‘What was their intent.’ And then, the judge will rule,” Attorney Allie Booker said.
Turner also asked Booker about the TRO.
“The reason that he did not grant that TRO is because he stated that there will be finality soon. This is just a question and a matter of law, and he doesn’t want the case to be stalled so he wants to go straight to trial,” Booker responded.
Turner tried speaking to a representative from the Barbers Hill School District, but he had no comment.
Before the hearing, Darryl George, and his family gathered alongside Candice Matthews, the Statewide Chair-Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds, and State Rep. Rhetta Bowers who authored the CROWN ACT.
Darryl described how he feels about being suspended over his locs hairstyle.
“It’s just been stressful. It’s been frustrating because, why me? Why am I the only person getting picked on? Why am I the only person that’s sitting in that room every day, all day?” Darryl told Turner.
Turner will have a live report on KPRC2 News at 4 p.m. Check back for more updates.