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Morse vs. Frederick

Duel of the Courts

Our Opinion

Stephanie Heffler- I think Pricipal Morse was right to take the sign away. It was during school hours and during a school functioned event. Even though they were not of school property, it was wrong to disrespect Principal Morse and the school itself. I am firm believer in Freedom of Speech, but it was during a school function in school hours. Those boys knew what they did was wrong. Prinicipal Morse had a right to take away the sign and Frederick had no right to disrespect and embarrase Juneau-Douglas High School including Prinicpal Morse and the students and faculty in it.

Violation of the fist amendment which clearly states:

Congress shall not abridge the Freedom Of Speech.

Abbey Raymond and Hailee Martin- We agree with both between this case. This event was held during school hours and under teacher and staff supervision. Plus, a sign saying this is not oppropriate during school especially on live television. On the other hand it was off and a healthy distance away from school property. Yet, it's almost the same as a school related field trip. Even though it's away from the school the rules still apply.

People Involved

Deborah Morse

-believed the sign was used to promote drug abuse

-suspended Frederick for 5 days but increased it to 10 days after he quoted Thomas Jefferson .

Joseph Frederick

-first saw the logo on a snowboard

-was not on school grounds

-did not disrupt an educational process

Frederick sued Morse for not allowing him to have Freedom of Speech.

The claim and violation

The Courtroom

January 23, 2002- Morse claims Frederick was supporting drug abuse by holding a sign that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" but that was not the whole story. He first saw the saying on a snowboard sticker. Frederick claims that Morse and the school board were violating his right of freedom of speech promoted by the first amendment. It ended on June 25, 2007. For the record we do not agree with the sign.

April 25, 2002- Frederick did a civil rights lawsuit claiming Morse violated the first amendment. They went to the United States District Court of Alaska dismissed Frederick case and put it on a summary judgement. The court claimed they had not violated his first amendment rights. The ninth circuit reversed the district courts decision. The judge was Andrew Kleinfeld.

In 2007, they took the case to the Supreme Court, in which the Court held to prove that the first amendment does not keep educators from depriving a student speech, at a school-superivised event, that is realistically seen as promoting illegal drug usage.

The Outcome

The Court ruled in favor of Morse, stating that she was not violating the first amendment. They decided that "schools may take steps to safegaurd those intrusted to their care from that can reasonably be regarded as encouraging illgal drug abuse. "

As a result, Morse did not violate his rights when she confiscated his sign and suspended him.

They rejected Frederick's argument that this was not a school speech case, as has every other authority to address the question. The event did occurre during normal school hours. And it was during a school function, appointed by Pricipal Morse. The techers were supervising during this event, therefore it was school functioned.

In the end Morse was satisfied because she was able to stop the violation of drug abuse. Frederick however was not. He infact, tried to claim his freedom of speech was violated not only under the Bill of Rights but as well as the Constitution of Alaska. To settle this dispute, the district paid Frederick 45,000 dollars to settle all other disputes.

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