Mayor's right to challenge busing order up for ruling

With two major school desegregation cases already pending, the US Supreme Court has a similar dispute with a new twist: questioning whether a mayor can challenge court-ordered busing in his city.

The mayor of Buffalo, N.Y., is arguing that since he has to come up with money for a transportation plan, he should be able to contest a federal court order to bus students.

School desegregation cases in most cities usually involve suits by civil rights groups against local boards of education. Seldom are mayors named as formal parties to the suits.