Contemporary scholars researching the courts' impact on schools would profit from examining the well-funded studies conducted in the 1960s and early 1970s. This article discusses the substance of early judicial impact research and explores its relevance for today. Most 1960s impact studies dealt with United States Supreme Court decisions in three areas of which two involved education: school prayer and school desegregation. Early impact research posited the simple, testable proposition that Supreme Court decisions in these two controversial areas might be ignored or evaded. Numerous variables were found to affect short-term compliance. Since school personnel evinced incomplete understanding of court decision requirements, local compliance was promoted by the activities of third-party groups like civil liberties associations. Some school administrators decided to avoid behavior changes until directed by school boards or threatened by lawsuits. Resistance and acceptance were also related to geographic region. This article lists a dozen findings that could be used as hypotheses for contemporary researchers. Two important variables needing further study are administrators' personal attitudes and community elites' roles. Community case studies are also needed. Early impact research offers both a useful source of testable propositions and an excellent proving ground for research methodologies. Specific research emphases are briefly discussed and a plea is made for a return to indepth field methodologies. Appended are 22 references. (MLH)