Kenneth Starr to Take on Alaska Appeal

[Judi Lynn]

Kenneth Starr to Take on Alaska Appeal
Kenneth Starr to Take on Alaska Appeal Over 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' Banner

JUNEAU, Alaska May 3, 2006 (AP)— Kenneth Starr, the former Whitewater special prosecutor, will represent the city school board in appealing a judge's ruling that favored a high school student who displayed a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner during an Olympic torch relay.

The school board wants the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. In April, an appeals court said school officials violated the student's free speech rights when they suspended him for 10 days.

Starr, who is dean at Pepperdine Law School in Malibu, Calif., has agreed to take the case for free, said Phyllis Carlson, president of the school board.

"Federal law requires us to maintain a consistent message that use of drugs like marijuana is harmful and illegal. Yet, when we try to enforce our policies, our administrators are sued and exposed to damage awards," she said.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1919013

[Lautremont]

1. Starr will no doubt give this case the gravitas and legitimacy

it so badly requires.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. How about a constitutional amemendment banning the phrase

wouldn't that be a better use of time?

[Kagemusha]

3. The kid was off campus and didn't disrupt the school...

And he was suspended 10 days anyway, for violating the political values of the institution that is the apparent rightful owner of his free speech rights as an American citizen below majority age. Only the school can make political decisions for students; only the school can permit political speech. Starr is taking this case pro bono to affirm these American (???) values.

[Toots]

4. This is not a case about drugs, it is about free speech.

They are deliberately trying to confuse the two.. In no way does "Bong hits for Jesus" offer a possitive drug message. In fact it is almost meaningless. It has more to do with religion than drugs IMO. They are trying to shut down his religious freedom as well as his free speech..

[harpboy_ak]

5. This town believes in free speech!

I'm betting that Ms. Carlson won't get re-elected. Not because we're the most liberal community in the state, but because folks here believe in free speech, and in not wasting any more of the public's resources on this stupid case.

Quite frankly, the kid was an obnoxious provocateur (and his father was equally obnoxious) but some of the school district control freaks just can't stand kids who want to test the system. Anyone who had read any of the previous school free speech and free press cases decided by the Supremes should have known not to waste public funds on it.

Most of us were happy with the 9th Circuit opinion, and thought that we were done with it. I'm betting that the Supremes will deny certiorari.

[struggle4progress]

6. Wow! Starr really DOES know how to waste taxpayers' money.

[xxqqqzme]

7. real reason starr is offering to represent pro bono

'...Frederick's lawyer, Douglas Mertz, said it is unlikely the nation's highest court will hear the case...'