"Strip search of Ariz. teenager illegal, court says" by Jesse J. Holland, Associated Press Writer | June 25, 2009
WASHINGTON --The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that school officials violated an Arizona teenager's rights by strip-searching her for prescription-strength ibuprofen, declaring that U.S. educators cannot force children to remove their clothing unless student safety is at risk.
In an 8-1 ruling, the justices said that Safford Middle School officials violated the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches with their treatment of Savana Redding....
While children's advocates and civil liberties groups cheered the decision, others suggested the high court may have created further problems for school systems by failing to make clear exactly when school administrators can strip search students and when they can't....
What is with the school system wanting to get into the kids' pants?
So which pervert dissented?'
In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas said the search had been legal and the court previously had given school officials "considerable leeway" under the Fourth Amendment in school settings.
Figures! Is that a pubic hair on my Coke?
In this case, officials had searched the girl's backpack and found nothing, Thomas said. "It was eminently reasonable to conclude the backpack was empty because Redding was secreting the pills in a place she thought no one would look," he said.
Thomas warned that the majority's decision could backfire. "Redding would not have been the first person to conceal pills in her undergarments," he said. The court also ruled the middle school officials could not be held liable in a lawsuit for the search....
Call it what it is: unaccountable tyranny. Getting an education, aren't ya?
School lawyers praised the decision not to hold the school officials financially liable. But "the majority opinion offers little clarification of the applicable Fourth Amendment standard while unduly limiting the ability of school officials to protect students from the harmful effects of drugs and weapons on school campuses," said Matthew W. Wright, lawyer for the school district....
Several states ban strip searching students, including California, Washington, Iowa, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin....
I keep wondering why "liberal" Massachusetts never makes the grade on the civil liberties/freedom issues.
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"Firefighters’ case among last facing justices; Final 3 decisions to come tomorrow" by Mark Sherman, Associated Press | June 28, 2009
WASHINGTON - In addition to the three pending decisions, the court also is expected to say whether it will hear several important cases in its term that begins in October. Among those cases are:
A bid by convicted police killer Troy Davis of Georgia to get a new court hearing so that he can present evidence suggesting his innocence. Seven of nine key witnesses against Davis have recanted their earlier testimony, but state and federal courts have refused to order a new hearing.Of course, the state is interested in the truth above all else, right?
I mean, WE ARE TOLD THIS about AmeriKan justice all the time!
See: Supreme Court Administers Truth Serum to Massachusetts
Once their work is done, four justices are heading to Europe for teaching gigs. Roberts will be in Galway, Ireland. Justice Samuel A. Alito will travel to Innsbruck, Austria. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is heading to Rome. Justice Anthony Kennedy will spend July in Salzburg, Austria, for the 20th straight year.
In keeping with his practice of shunning the spotlight, Souter is expected to return to his home in New Hampshire with little fanfare.
Related: New Hampshire Souts Him Just Fine
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