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PotShot · 03-13-2006, 10:20 AM

Court upholds 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' banner
Reuters | Stuff.co.nz | 13 March 2006

SAN FRANCISCO: An Alaskan high school violated a student's free speech rights by suspending him after he unfurled a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" across the street from the school, a federal court has ruled.

Joseph Frederick, a student at Juneau-Douglas High School in Alaska, displayed the banner – which refers to smoking marijuana – in January 2002 to try to get on television as the Olympic torch relay was passing the school.

Principal Deborah Morse seized the banner and suspended the 18-year-old for 10 days, saying he had undermined the school's educational mission and anti-drug stance.

Friday's ruling by the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overturned a decision by a federal court in Alaska that backed Frederick's suspension and said his rights were not violated.

The appeals court said the banner was protected speech because it did not disrupt school activity and was displayed off school grounds during a non-curricular activity.

"Public schools are instrumentalities of government, and government is not entitled to suppress speech that undermines whatever missions it defines for itself," Judge Andrew Kleinfeld wrote in the court's opinion.

The court also cleared the way for Frederick to seek damages, saying Morse was aware of relevant case law and should have known her actions violated his rights.

Cassius · 03-13-2006, 01:41 PM

Too bad the school doesn't have the authority to make cordoned-off "free speech zones" far away from the cameras like the President does! heh

Cassius · 03-13-2006, 01:55 PM

Hey Potshot, Buzzby already posted this article!

http://www.marijuana.com/420/showthread.php?t=44835

Buzzby · 03-13-2006, 04:47 PM

So I guess I ought to close this thread...

Thread Closed

03-13-2006, 10:20 AM	#1
PotShot Sr. Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 925 Grams: 4,011.19 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	USA: Court upholds 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' banner Court upholds 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' banner Reuters \| Stuff.co.nz \| 13 March 2006 SAN FRANCISCO: An Alaskan high school violated a student's free speech rights by suspending him after he unfurled a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" across the street from the school, a federal court has ruled. Joseph Frederick, a student at Juneau-Douglas High School in Alaska, displayed the banner – which refers to smoking marijuana – in January 2002 to try to get on television as the Olympic torch relay was passing the school. Principal Deborah Morse seized the banner and suspended the 18-year-old for 10 days, saying he had undermined the school's educational mission and anti-drug stance. Friday's ruling by the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overturned a decision by a federal court in Alaska that backed Frederick's suspension and said his rights were not violated. The appeals court said the banner was protected speech because it did not disrupt school activity and was displayed off school grounds during a non-curricular activity. "Public schools are instrumentalities of government, and government is not entitled to suppress speech that undermines whatever missions it defines for itself," Judge Andrew Kleinfeld wrote in the court's opinion. The court also cleared the way for Frederick to seek damages, saying Morse was aware of relevant case law and should have known her actions violated his rights. __________________ Carl Sagan Goodness Richard Dawkins Goodness --------------------- THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR.

03-13-2006, 01:41 PM	#2
Cassius Seasoned Activist Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,161 Grams: 3,131.90 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Too bad the school doesn't have the authority to make cordoned-off "free speech zones" far away from the cameras like the President does! heh __________________ { Cassius, Your Humble Narrator } { Posting Guidelines \| Erowid Drug Information Resource \| instantfilehosting.com }

03-13-2006, 04:47 PM	#4
Buzzby Buddhist Curmudgeon Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 14,664 Grams: 51,181.17 Groans: 43 Groaned at 51 Times in 43 Posts Thanks: 559 Thanked 4,145 Times in 2,050 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	So I guess I ought to close this thread... Thread Closed __________________ 60% of the people of America now say we are heading toward a depression. Not a recession, a depression. We are in desperate need of profitable industries that we can tax. Um... Now can we legalize pot? ~ Bill Maher Theocracy Watch

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03-13-2006, 01:55 PM	#3
Cassius Seasoned Activist Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,161 Grams: 3,131.90 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Hey Potshot, Buzzby already posted this article! http://www.marijuana.com/420/showthread.php?t=44835

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