Case Narrative: Chief Justice V. Defendant
Defendant's Argument: Mr. Chief Justice and may it please the court:
The issue is this case is whether a public school district may regulate indecent speech in a public school setting. The facts of this case are that on April 26th, 1983, Matt Fraser, a 17 year old high school senior, gave a speech in front of the student body. Fraser’s speech was to introduce his candidate for vice president’s position of the student body. His speech contained references to sexual innuendo when compare the candidates. For the conservation of time, I will not repeat any of his speech. Let it be mentioned that Mr. Fraser did obtain significant reactions to his speech, which contained some students hooting and hollering. After the speech, the school administration …show more content…
Is that right?
Defendant Lawyer: Yes, sir. He gave the speech to three teachers. Ten minutes before he gave his speech two teachers said that exact same things to him. “That speech is inappropriate, don’t give it.”
Chief Justice: He wasn’t told by the principal?
Defendant Lawyer: Well, the principal did not know that he was going to give the speech.
Chief Justice: Did the teachers have the authority to stop him from giving the speech?
Defendant Lawyer: Yes, they had the authority to stop him from giving the speech by multiple methods like sending him to the principal office. Both teacher didn’t clearly exercise any of those methods to stop him.
Chief Justice: So, you’re telling me if the teacher stop him from giving that speech it would be a different case.
Defendant Lawyer: Yes, sir. The overall issue of the case is that the school district has violated Mr. Fraser First amendment and have carried out unnecessary punishment in consequence of his speech, when before the speech was given two teachers could have used their authority to not let him precede with the speech. If possible I would like to reserve the remainder of the time for the
The issue is this case is whether a public school district may regulate indecent speech in a public school setting. The facts of this case are that on April 26th, 1983, Matt Fraser, a 17 year old high school senior, gave a speech in front of the student body. Fraser’s speech was to introduce his candidate for vice president’s position of the student body. His speech contained references to sexual innuendo when compare the candidates. For the conservation of time, I will not repeat any of his speech. Let it be mentioned that Mr. Fraser did obtain significant reactions to his speech, which contained some students hooting and hollering. After the speech, the school administration …show more content…
Is that right?
Defendant Lawyer: Yes, sir. He gave the speech to three teachers. Ten minutes before he gave his speech two teachers said that exact same things to him. “That speech is inappropriate, don’t give it.”
Chief Justice: He wasn’t told by the principal?
Defendant Lawyer: Well, the principal did not know that he was going to give the speech.
Chief Justice: Did the teachers have the authority to stop him from giving the speech?
Defendant Lawyer: Yes, they had the authority to stop him from giving the speech by multiple methods like sending him to the principal office. Both teacher didn’t clearly exercise any of those methods to stop him.
Chief Justice: So, you’re telling me if the teacher stop him from giving that speech it would be a different case.
Defendant Lawyer: Yes, sir. The overall issue of the case is that the school district has violated Mr. Fraser First amendment and have carried out unnecessary punishment in consequence of his speech, when before the speech was given two teachers could have used their authority to not let him precede with the speech. If possible I would like to reserve the remainder of the time for the