James Meredith took his case against the University of Mississippi to:

James Meredith took his case against the University of Mississippi to the federal court. Specifically, his legal battle culminated in a landmark case heard by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Meredith's fight for enrollment at the university, which was historically segregated and barred Black students, became a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

In 1961, Meredith sought to enroll at the University of Mississippi but faced violent resistance and rejection due to his race. This led him to file a lawsuit, arguing that the university's refusal to admit him was a violation of his right to equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor, affirming his right to enroll at the university and setting a precedent for desegregation in public education. His enrollment in 1962 was met with widespread riots but it marked a pivotal moment in the fight against segregation in the American South.