NSBA files amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Morse v. Frederick, known as the “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” case
NSBA, joined by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, has filed an amicus brief, below, with the U.S. Supreme Court in Morse v. Frederick, Docket No. 06-278, popularly known as the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case. The brief supports the Juneau School District (JSD) school board and Principal Deborah Morse of Juneau-Douglas High School in a dispute over the appropriate balance between student free speech and the discretion of school officials, as well as the personal legal liability of school administrators. See the NSBA press statement. Background on the case, with links to additional resources, is available at the NSBA School Law pages link and on a page devoted to that purpose that on the JSD website. Lead authors on the brief were COSA members Michael E. Smith and Cathleen C. Hall of the Lozano Smith law firm in Fresno, California, whose services were pro bono. NSBA and AASA also had submitted an earlier brief, available at the NSBA School Law pages link, urging to Court to review the case. Oral arguments have been scheduled for March 19, 2007.
[NSBA brief in Morse v. Frederick]
[NSBA press statement on filing of brief]
[NSBA School Law pages on Morse v. Frederick]
[JSD website page on Morse v. Frederick]