High School Strip Search Case goes to Supreme Court

[richlevy]

From here.

So basically, a girl with no prior record was strip searched based on hearsay from a fellow student. The drug in question was ibuprofin. The girls parents were not consulted. The school is saying that minors have about the same rights as prison inmates.

The 9th Circuit ruled in favor of the student. The Supreme Court may be set to overturn completely, allowing schools unimpeded right to strip and possibly even body cavity search students at will.

That being said, the tone of the questions does not always indicate how the justices will vote.

Instead, most of the justices voiced concern that students could hide dangerous drugs such as crack cocaine or heroin in their clothes.

The case before the court concerns a 13-year-old Arizona girl who was strip searched in a nurse's office after a school friend said the girl, Savana Redding, had brought white pills to school. The pills were extra-strength ibuprofen, which is commonly taken for headaches and cramps.

Last year, a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the strip search of Savana Redding was unreasonable and unconstitutional since the pills were ibuprofen. And the court held that the school officials who ordered the search were liable for damages.

But in their comments and questions, most of the justices signaled they are inclined to overturn that decision.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said the school officials should be shielded from being sued since the law governing school searches had not been clear. In the past, the court has said public officials cannot be held liable for damages unless they violate a "clearly established" right.

Better background here.

Imagine how f**cked up this country could be if the cops could break down the door of anyones house just because their neighbor made up a story.