Introduction
One of the fundamental roles of the United States Constitution is to the protection of citizens’ individual rights and liberties. Although there can be limits beyond which the U.S.
Discussion
Constitution on an individual’s fundamental rights and liberties does not apply, only the court system can accurately interpret or confirm such boundaries. Such is with the case of Sarah Sampson, a senior high school student who walked in wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for a gubernatorial candidate. Since Sarah Sampson claimed her First Amendment right to freedom of speech when asked to change her T-shirt, the main issue is to determine if the five-day suspension violated Sampson’s liberty. The main question is, “Is Sarah Sampson within her First Amendment right to freedom of speech by walking into school wearing the T-shirt that showed her political support for a gubernatorial candidate?”
In conclusion, the court’s decision to uphold Sarah Sampson’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech came from reliable case laws whose interpretation of the Constitution clarified the legality of Sampson’s expressions. Landmark cases and related legal battles in U.S. courts rely on the rule of law to determine the legality of controversial situations. The case of Sarah Sampson closely relates to the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969). The case law elaborates that the First Amendment limits the protection of an individual’s freedom of speech. The case law clarifies that a student’s right to freedom of speech remains active even after crossing the schoolhouse gate.
Conclusion
My knowledge of this case is that Sarah Sampson walked into Newsome Public High School with a T-shirt that bore a politician’s slogan. The school’s rule of law is the dress code prohibiting students from wearing T-shirts with controversial or disruptive logos or slogans. However, since Sampson’s T-shirt was not encouraging anything illegal, the school administration cannot violate her right to express a political opinion.
References
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503. (1969). Web.