Remaining Claims In "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" Case Settled

Last year, the Supreme Court last year decided Morse v. Frederick, holding that Juneau, Alaska school officials did not violate a student's free speech rights when they confiscated his banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" displayed at the at the Olympic Torch Relay.(See prior posting.) However, there were additional claims left to be decided on remand. The AP reported yesterday that now the school district and former student Joseph Frederick have reached a settlement in the case. In exchange for Frederick dropping his remaining claims, the school district will pay him $45,000 and will also hire a neutral constitutional law expert to chair a forum on student speech rights this school year. Under the settlement, the school district will continue to enforce its policies prohibiting students from displaying materials that advocate or celebrate illegal drug use.