Morse v. Frederick
What's at Stake
Whether school officials violated the First Amendment when they suspended a high school student for holding up a sign that the principal interpreted as a pro-drug message when the sign caused no disruption, was displayed at a public event on the public streets, and the student had not yet arrived at school for the day. DECIDED
Summary
For forty years, the First Amendment has generally protected the right of students to speak on even controversial topics absent evidence that their speech caused substantial disruption within the school. In this case, a high school senior was suspended for holding up a sign at the Olympic Torch Relay in Juneau, Alaska, before he had even arrived at school for the day. Although there was no evidence of disruption, the school justified its action by claiming that the student's sign contained a pro-drug message that was inconsistent with the school's educational mission to discourage drug use. The question presented is whether a school can censor student speech because it disagrees with its message.
Legal Documents
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02/20/2007
Morse v. Frederick - Respondent's Brief
Date Filed: 02/20/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the American Center for Law and Justice
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Center for Individual Rights
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Christian Legal Society
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Drug Policy Center
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Liberty Counsel
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Liberty Legal Institute
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the National Coalition Against Censorship
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Rutherford Institute
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Student Press Law Center
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
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02/19/2007
Amicus Brief of the Alliance Defense Fund
Date Filed: 02/19/2007
Download DocumentPress Releases
ACLU Slams Supreme Court Decision in Student Free Speech Case
Student in Supreme Court Free Speech Case Speaks About Suspension Over "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" Banner
ACLU of Alaska Hails Court Ruling Affirming Student’s Free Speech Rights
ACLU Files Lawsuit Challenging Alaska School District's Censorship of Student's Off-Campus Speech