Funnyest Supreme Court Case ever!

[chiwawa626]

U.S. Supreme Court
BETHEL SCHOOL DIST. NO. 403 v. FRASER, 478 U.S. 675 (1986)
478 U.S. 675
BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 403 ET AL. v. FRASER, A MINOR, ET AL.
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

No. 84-1667.

Argued March 3, 1986
Decided July 7, 1986

On April 26, 1983, respondent Matthew N. Fraser, a student at Bethel High School in Pierce County, Washington, delivered a speech nominating a fellow student for student elective office. Approximately 600 high school students, many of whom were 14-year-olds, attended the assembly. Students were required to attend the assembly or to report to the study hall. The assembly was part of a school-sponsored educational program in self-government. Students who elected not to attend the assembly were required to report to study hall. During the entire speech, Fraser referred [478 U.S. 675, 678] to his candidate in terms of an elaborate, graphic, and explicit sexual metaphor.

Speech:

"`I know a man who is firm - he's firm in his pants, he's firm in his shirt, his character is firm - but most . . . of all, his belief in you, the students of Bethel, is firm.

"`Jeff Kuhlman is a man who takes his point and pounds it in. If necessary, he'll take an issue and nail it to the wall. He doesn't attack things in spurts - he drives hard, pushing and pushing until finally - he succeeds.

"`Jeff is a man who will go to the very end - even the climax, for each and every one of you.

"`So vote for Jeff for A. S. B. vice-president - he'll never come between you and the best our high school can be.'"

After the speech the school takes away his right to speak at graduation and punishes him, he takes them to court all the way to the supreme court. Majority Opinon is the kid wins, but the funny part is one of the Dissenting opinions:

JUSTICE STEVENS, dissenting.
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

muhahah good case 🙂

(http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=/us/478/675.html)

 

[kmac1914]

well.....allright then....

*just passing through*

 

[ElFenix]

what does gone with the wind have to do with this?

 

[brxndxn]

what does gone with the wind have to do with this?

LOL... and Elvis has left the building!

 

[tcsenter]

There are many Supreme Court rulings which contain very witty satirical and facetious statements. Ginsburg has written more than a few. She's a fiesty one with a pretty good sense of humor.

But I was wondering, since when is there a constitutional right to speak at one's graduation? That is stupid.