"Ruling Gives Mexican Children Equal Rights", Los Angeles Times, 1946. Mexican-american.org

In the end, the Mendezes won their case, and segregation was ended in Orange County schools. This became the first successful federal case in desegregating schools in the nation. On April 14, 1947, federal appeals court judges ruled unanimously to approve Judge McCormick’s decision. The final words of the court on Mendez were, "segregation does not include that of school children because of their Mexican blood." The court ruled that Orange County disobeyed the "Equal Protection Clause", and California state law.