In 1994, an 8th grader named Robb Leandro from Hoke County became the face of a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina. His school couldn't provide a basic education despite taxing at higher rates than average. Here's what happened next.
Parents, kids, and five school districts in the poorest counties in NC sue the state. Their schools can't provide a basic education. Robb Leandro, a kid from Raeford who had to watch science labs on a screen because his school couldn't afford the equipment, becomes the lead plaintiff.
Robb is 14. He's in 8th grade in Hoke County.
Source: Public Schools First NC; Scalawag (2018); Carolina Journal
Court of Appeals dismisses the case. Says the constitution doesn't guarantee education quality.
Robb is 16. He's a junior in high school.
Source: EdNC (Leandro litigation timeline)
Supreme Court reverses. Unanimously. Every child has a right to a "sound basic education." Case goes to trial.
Robb is 17. He graduates high school and earns a B.N. Duke Scholarship to Duke University.
Source: Leandro v. State, 346 N.C. 336 (1997); Parker Poe attorney profile
14-month trial. 400+ page decision. Judge finds the state is violating the constitution.
Robb is at Duke. Plays football. Makes ACC Honor Roll. Graduates in 2001 with a BA.
Source: EdNC; WFAE; Parker Poe attorney profile
Supreme Court agrees again. Every classroom needs a qualified teacher. Every school needs a trained principal. Fund it.
Robb is 24. He's in law school at Vanderbilt.
Source: Hoke County Bd. of Educ. v. State, 358 N.C. 605 (2004)
Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. is assigned to oversee compliance in 2006. He monitors for 12 years. Visits schools. Holds hearings. Threatens to close failing schools. Calls it "academic genocide." Nothing structurally changes.
Robb graduates from Vanderbilt Law in 2006 and joins Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein. The same firm representing the same five counties that sued on his behalf. By 2016, he's 36, a practicing healthcare attorney, named a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Still waiting.
Source: WFAE; EdNC; The Assembly NC; Parker Poe attorney profile; NC Bar records
Independent consultant WestEd hired. Delivers a 300-page report. Recommends ~$5.6 billion over eight years.
Robb is 39. He's been a lawyer longer than he was a student in the schools the case is about.
Source: WestEd "Sound Basic Education for All" (Dec 2019); Public Schools First NC
Judge David Lee, who took over the case after Manning's retirement, signs a consent order. Both sides agree on the facts. Orders a comprehensive plan.
Robb is 40. The case is old enough to run for president.
Source: EdNC (Jan 2020); Campbell Law Observer
Plan submitted. Judge Lee signs off. Legislature doesn't fund it. Lee orders $1.75 billion transferred from the treasury.
Robb is 41.
Source: Education Law Center; EdNC; WRAL
Nov 4: Supreme Court (4-3 D majority) orders the legislature to fund the plan.
Nov 8: Four days later. Election flips the court to 5-2 Republican.
Robb is 42.
Source: Public Schools First NC; NC Newsline; WFAE
Senate President Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore ask the new court to rehear the case. No petition for rehearing was filed within the standard deadline. The appeal was filed after the new court was seated.
Berger's son, Justice Phil Berger Jr., sits on the court. Refuses to recuse.
New R-majority court agrees to rehear. 5-2 party line vote. Halts all fund transfers.
Robb is 43. He's been waiting since 8th grade.
Source: NC Newsline (Oct 2023); WUNC (Feb 2024); Carolina Journal; Cardinal & Pine
Oral arguments February 22. Both sides present. The court takes the case under advisement.
Robb is 44. He has four kids now.
Source: WFAE; WUNC; The Assembly NC
Over two years of silence. No ruling. No explanation. $0 delivered.
Robb is 45.
Source: The Assembly NC (Oct 2025: "601 days later, they have yet to issue a decision"); WUNC (Feb 2025)
April 2. Supreme Court dismisses the case. With prejudice. 4-3.
Majority: Newby, Berger Jr., Barringer, Allen. Procedural grounds. The trial court expanded beyond the original five counties. That's the technicality.
Nine years of funding orders vacated. The $1.75 billion transfer order: gone. Cannot be refiled.
Robb is 46. He waited 32 years. The case that bears his name is dead.
Read the dissents and what comes next →
Source: WRAL (April 2, 2026); EdNC; WUNC; NC Newsline
The courts are done. Elect people who'll fund schools because it's right, not because a judge made them. State house. State senate. Every seat.
Keep Anita Earls in 2026. Flip two seats in 2028. This court killed Leandro. The next one doesn't have to look like this one.
Current court: 5R-2D. Earls (D) up in 2026 vs. Sarah Stevens (R). Three R seats up in 2028: Newby, Barringer, Berger Jr. Win 2 of 3 = 4-3 D majority.
They had $600M+ for vouchers. They killed the case that would have funded your kid's school. Ask your legislator why.