Comments on: Bong hits 4 shakedown?

By: “‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus’ student nets $45,000″

“‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus’ student nets $45,000″ — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:30:05 +0000

[…] “The Juneau-Douglas (Alaska) School District and former student Joseph Frederick have reached a settlement in the ‘Bong Hits 4 Jesus’ case …. The school district will pay Frederick $45,000, [and] it is ‘required to hire a neutral constitutional law expert to chair a forum on student speech’ at its high school at a cost of up to $5,000.” (DRJ @ Patterico, Nov. 6; earlier). […]

By: Yoda

Yoda — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:34:44 +0000

I see the moron moment when the school sought to punish the kid.

I see the typical US moment when a lawsuit is used to take care of this because neither side was willing to use common sense.

I see the overlawyered part in the damages pursued…

Points to the judge for actually calling the plaintiff on it.

By: nevins

nevins — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:59:52 +0000

The only overlawyered part of the case seems to be when the school district sought to punish a student for legal acts committed at a time and place when he was not under the control of the school.

When does a student get to not be a student? Does the district have my kid 24/7 from age 5 through 18 or is my child a private citizen at some point throughout that time?

The district might have a reasonable claim that the minor’s acts were disruptive to the community interest of education if his sign implied the principal took bong hits. But this kid’s sophomoric prank should be protected by free speach and free religion (church of jesus christ and the latter day bong).

By: The Sarcasticynic

The Sarcasticynic — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:19:36 +0000

Maybe the kid should claim he left off part of the sign. It should have said, “Bong Hits 4, Jesus 9.”