Analyzes federal case involving suspension of New Jersey high school student for wearing a T-shirt listing top 10 reasons for being a "redneck" in violation of district's racial harassment policy. Court upheld the policy with a minor exception, but ruled its application to the student's "redneck" T-shirt violated his First…

Academic freedom is invoked as both an individual freedom and an institutional bulwark. "Parate v. Isibor," recently decided by the Sixth Circuit, illustrates many of the problems that the concept causes litigants and courts. The unfortunate compromise resolution trivializes the principles ostensibly protected by academic freedom. (MLF)

Takes issues with Gregory Hauser's previous article positing a constitutional right of social fraternities to formal recognition at public institutions of higher education. Reanalyzes each of the associational cases cited by Hauser, cites additional cases, adds a waiver argument, and wraps up with a public policy comparison of higher education…

James LaVine, a high-school junior, wrote a first-person fantasy about killing 28 people in school and then committing suicide. The district suspended him for 17 days. James and his father filed suit against the school district alleging that the emergency expulsion violated James' First Amendment rights. The District Court ruled for the LaVines…

Serious constitutional problems arise when the contempt power of judges clashes with other compelling interests such as those of the First Amendment. The "collateral bar" rule--which requires that court orders, even those later determined to be unconstitutional, must be complied with until amended or vacated--in effect, calls for…

This report compares and contrasts Federal court decisions involving student dress codes, with special emphasis on Denver area cases. Discussion covers code enforcement, subsequent court battles, relevant constitutional issues, and First Amendment and procedural and substantive due process considerations. The report includes the official…

Addresses the question of whether student prayer groups should be allowed to use school facilities. The Equal Access Act allows all noncurricular student groups to meet, whereas four federal appellate court decisions ban prayer groups on the basis that separation between church and state outweighs students' right to free speech. (WTH)

Traces the public interest concept in libel to the time of "Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.," which supposedly rejected the concept, and beyond, demonstrating that the problem many free press advocates associate with the decision is really a consequence of the public interest test those same advocates cherish. (FL)

Reports on the Nigerian Supreme Court's struggles with the problems of interpreting colonial sedition laws while protecting democratic freedoms. (FL)

Concludes that federal courts subpoena reporters less often and uphold subpoenas less often than do state courts. (FL)

Developments in free speech constitutional law have changed the function of public education. Sets forth the facts of "Settle," involving a student's claim to religious expression within a classroom; analyzes the court's decision in light of judicial precedent; and examines implications for the operation of public schools. (76 footnotes)…

Argues that graduation prayer is unconstitutional because it violates the Establishment Clause, but the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment entitles a valedictorian giving a commencement speech to discuss religion and even to express religious beliefs as the student's own, private beliefs. Summarizes court decisions. (MLF)

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving three competing interests--the university, students, and commercial vendors. Examines lower court decisions in the case along with other jurisdictions that have specifically addressed the issues of commercial solicitation on campuses. (MLF)

Describes 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in "Cockrel v. Schelby County School District," involving a fifth-grade teacher's claim that she was unlawfully terminated for teaching a unit on the industrial use of hemp, thus violating her First Amendment right of free speech. (PKP)

The resolution of free speech issues in the public school context has, until recently, involved a precarious balancing between the First Amendment rights of students and teachers and the role of public schools in inculcating students with fundamental values. This year, in "Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier," the Supreme Court struck…