Safford Unified School District v. Redding (2009)

Last updated over 2 years ago

1 question

Note from the author:

Read the Facts, Issue, and Case History. Recall the precedents we covered in Weeks, TLO, and Acton.  Answer the question - Use the Oyez if you need help

Instructions

Read the Facts, Issue, and Case History. Recall the precedents we covered in Weeks, TLO, and Acton.  Answer the question - Use the Oyez if you need help

Facts:

Savana Redding was a 13-year-old student.  A male student reported that another girl, Marissa Glines, had given him a prescription-strength ibuprofen pill.  A search of Marissa’s day planner and pockets revealed more of the pills and some weapons.  Marissa then reported the day planner belonged to Savana, and that Savana had given her the pills.  Savana was then searched – a search which included not only her backpack and pockets, but also inside her undergarments.   She sued the school district for violating her rights.

Does a strip search of a public school student by a school official violate the 4th Amendment?

Case History: 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona agreed with the school district that there was no violation of the 4th Amendment. Ms. Redding appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  The Ninth Circuit en banc agreed with her claim that her 4th Amendment rights had been violated.  The school district then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

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Safford Unified School District v. Redding (2009)

What do you think the Supreme Court Decided?