Morse v. Frederick

Morse v. Frederick, Supreme Court, 2007

Facts of the Case

In January 2002, Joseph Frederick, a high school student in Juneau, Alaska, displayed a banner reading “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS” during a school-supervised event. The event was held to watch the Olympic Torch relay pass through the city. Deborah Morse, the school principal, demanded that Frederick take down the banner. When he refused, she confiscated the banner and suspended him for ten days, citing the school’s policy against promoting illegal drug use. Frederick sued, claiming that his First Amendment rights to free speech were violated.

Constitutional Question

Did the school officials violate Joseph Frederick’s First Amendment rights by confiscating his banner and suspending him for displaying a message promoting illegal drug use at a school-supervised event?

Arguments

For Frederick:

  • The banner was a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment.
  • The event took place off school grounds, and Frederick’s actions did not disrupt the school’s educational activities.
  • The punishment was excessive and stifled his freedom of expression on a matter of public concern.

For Morse (the school principal):

  • The banner’s message promoted illegal drug use, which is against the school’s policies and educational mission.
  • School officials have the authority to restrict speech that conflicts with the school’s anti-drug stance and disrupts the learning environment.
  • The event, although not on school property, was a school-supervised activity, and the same rules apply as on school grounds.

The Decision

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of Morse. The Court held that school officials did not violate Frederick’s First Amendment rights by confiscating his banner and suspending him. The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Roberts, stated that schools may take steps to safeguard students from speech that can reasonably be regarded as encouraging illegal drug use. The Court emphasized that the special characteristics of the school environment and the school’s interest in deterring drug use among students justified the restriction of Frederick’s speech.

Significance

Morse v. Frederick clarified the extent of students’ free speech rights under the First Amendment, particularly in the context of school-supervised activities. The decision reinforced the principle that while students do have free speech rights, those rights can be limited in situations where the speech promotes illegal activities or disrupts the educational environment. This case set a precedent for how schools can regulate student speech, particularly regarding messages that contradict the school’s policies on drugs and other significant issues.