Thursday, November 14, 2013

Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser case brief

Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser case brief summary
478 U.S. 675 (1986)


CASE SYNOPSIS
On certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, petitioner challenged a ruling that held it liable, under 42 U.S.C.S. § 1983, for violating respondent's First Amendmentfree speech rights when it suspended respondent from school for delivering an allegedly lewd speech at a school function.

CASE FACTS
At school-sponsored function at petitioner's school, respondent delivered a speech nominating a fellow student for student elective office. During the entire speech, respondent referred to his candidate in terms of an elaborate, graphic, and explicit sexual metaphor. Respondent used the language against the advice two teachers. Pursuant to petitioner's disciplinary rules, respondent was suspended from school for two days. Respondent brought suit against respondent alleging a violation of his U.S. Constitutional Amendment I right to freedom of speech and sought both injunctive relief and monetary damages. The trial court found for respondent and the court of appeals affirmed.

DISCUSSION

  • On certiorari, the Court reversed, holding thatU.S. Constitutional Amendment I did not prevent petitioner from suspending respondent since the penalties imposed were unrelated to any political viewpoint. 
  • U.S. Constitutional Amendment I did not prevent petitioner from determining that to permit respondent's speech would undermine the school's basic educational mission.

CONCLUSION
Judgment reversed; the First Amendment did not prevent petitioner from suspending respondent in response to his speech. The penalties imposed were unrelated to any political viewpoint, and the First Amendment did not prevent petitioner from determining that to permit respondent's lewd speech would undermine the school's basic educational mission.

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