Supreme Court to hear "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a free-speech case from Alaska known as the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" dispute, in which a high-school principal suspended a student for displaying that phrase on a banner.

The case hinges on the extent free-speech rights are afforded to students.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the student, saying the school violated his First Amendment rights. The case has turned on the fuzzy line separating students' free-speech rights and school officials' authority to enforce anti-drug policies.

The controversy erupted in 2002 after Joseph Frederick, then a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School, displayed a banner proclaiming "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" while standing across the street from the school as the Winter Olympics torch was passing through Juneau.

Then-Principal Deborah Morse confiscated the banner and suspended Frederick from school for 10 days.

Because the demonstration occurred outside the classroom and did not disrupt school activity, the school had violated the student's free-speech rights by punishing him, the appeals court found.

The Supreme Court is expected to begin hearing the case in late February.