Cavett v. Butler

The above-entitled cases, like Cumings v. Hokr (1948), 31 Cal.2d 844 [ 193 P.2d 742 ]; Cassell v. Hickerson (1948), 31 Cal.2d 869 [ 193 P.2d 743 ]; Davis v. Carter (1948), 31 Cal.2d 870 [ 193 P.2d 744 ]; In re Laws (1948), 31 Cal.2d 846 [ 193 P.2d 744 ]; Clayton v. Wilkins, post, p. 895 [ 197 P.2d 162 ]; and Morin v. Crane, post, p. 896 [ 197 P.2d 162 ], involve the legality and enforceability of privately imposed restrictions against occupation of certain lots of land by persons other than those of the Caucasian race. In each of the instant cases the trial court enjoined occupancy of the respectively concerned lots by non-Caucasians.

Upon the authority of Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), 334 U.S. 1 [ 68 S.Ct. 836 , 92 L.Ed. -] (see also Hurd v. Hodge (1948), 334 U.S. 24 [ 68 S.Ct. 847 , 92 L.Ed. -]), holding that such restrictions cannot be enforced through court action, the judgment of the trial court enforcing the restrictions is in each case reversed.