GALVESTON, Texas — A federal judge has ruled that Darryl George, the student suspended from Barbers Hill ISD for the length of his hair, can pursue a temporary restraining order that would allow him to go back to class.
The student spent the majority of his junior year serving an in-school suspension while the case played out.
George's attorneys say the stress of being isolated in school led to breakdown. George and his family decided to pull him out of Barbers Hill ISD and enrolled him in another nearby district, but George says he still wants to finish high school at Barbers Hill.
This is a familiar path for 18-year-old George. He's seen the inside of quite a few courtrooms in his quest to go back to Barbers Hill High school and keep his hair as it.
“It weighs heavy on me because I have to see my son put in this kind of position and I can’t do anything about it,” said Darryl’s mother, Darresha George.
And it's not been an easy journey. George was suspended during the 2023 school year for being in violation of Barbers Hill ISD's dress and hair code policy, which prohibits men from having hair longer than the earlobe. Family and attorneys say he toughed it out, but the new year brought unmanageable stress.
“We made a decision that he needed some relief from that school at the time,” she added.
This federal judge ruled they have enough standing to seek injunctive relief, which could put in motion a temporary restraining order, pausing the enforcement of Barbers Hill hair policy allowing George back in class.
“We’ve had to jump a lot of procedural hurdles,” said his attorney Allie Booker.
George spent most of the last year watching the judicial process, serving in-school suspension, only recently transferring to a different district for mental health relief.
“It’s extremely important that kids have contact with students and kids their age;,” said co-counsel Joseph Plumber. “So to isolate Mr. George from other students because of the length of his hair is detrimental to his mental health.”
A district court judge previously sided with Barbers Hill ISD, saying the dress code didn't violate the state’s Crown Act, which prohibits race-based hair discrimination. Another judge dismissed a civil race discrimination claim, while letting a claim of sex or gender discrimination claim stand.
Now, the federal judge’s decision provides a glimmer of hope for George and his family.
“Injunctive relief is very important in a case like this,” Booker said. “When you’re being punished and they’re persecuting you and you’re uncomfortable, it’s better that you be put in a better situation to fight.”
KHOU 11 reached out to the Barbers Hill ISD for comment and are waiting to hear back, but during the hearing, the school districts attorneys argued since George is enrolled in another school, he doesn’t have standing to request relief. The judge said he'll make a decision as soon as possible on the restraining order.