Supremes Pass On School Media Cases

Back in June I posted a piece about two federal appellate cases where the courts prohibited public schools from disciplining students who’d made fun of their respective principals with MySpace postings. The schools involved asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the appeal of those rulings. Just this week, the Supreme Court announced it would not take the cases. The Supreme Court does not have to hear any discretionary appeals. A party who wants the Court to consider a case has to file a petition for certiorari. And hope for pretty close to a miracle. According to answers.com, 98-99% of cert petitions are denied. So it’s no shock that the Court declined to hear the school cases. But it’s too bad. There are no doubt lots of students making fun of lots of principals online. A little clarity about what a school can do in terms of discipline would be welcomed.