From: monkeyhawk@cox.net   
      
   JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- Former Whitewater special counsel Kenneth Starr   
   petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Alaska's "Bong Hits 4 Jesus"   
   case, a dispute involving a high school student, a banner and a tough school   
   policy.   
      
   Starr, who gained national prominence while investigating former President   
   Clinton's Whitewater land deal and relationship with Monica Lewinsky, filed   
   the petition Monday on behalf of the Juneau School District in response to a   
   March ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.   
      
   The appeals court sided with a high school student who displayed a banner   
   reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during an Olympic torch relay in 2002. It ruled   
   former Juneau-Douglas High School principal Deborah Morse violated former   
   student Joseph Frederick's free speech rights.   
      
   The U.S. Supreme Court petition must receive a minimum of four of the nine   
   justices' votes to be heard.   
      
   Frederick, then a senior, was off school property when he hoisted the banner   
   but was suspended for violating the school's policy of promoting illegal   
   substances at a school-sanctioned event.   
      
   "The principal's actions were so outrageous, basically leaving school   
   grounds and punishing a student for a message that is not damaging to the   
   school," said his attorney, Doug Mertz.   
      
   Superintendent Peggy Cowan said clarification is needed on the rights of   
   administrators when it comes to disciplinary action of students who break   
   the district's drug message policy.   
      
   "The district's decision to move forward is not disrespectful to the First   
   Amendment or the rights of students," she said. "This is an important   
   question about how the First Amendment applies to pro-drug messages in an   
   educational setting."   
      
   Starr, of the Los Angeles-based firm Kirkland & Ellis, took the case pro   
   bono.   
      
   The outcome could have implications on how student-conduct policies are   
   enforced around the nation, said Eric Hagen, one of two other attorneys from   
   Starr's office named on the petition.   
      
   "It makes it a little harder when teachers and principals in their daily   
   duties might be subject to a damages lawsuit and be held personally liable,"   
   Hagen said.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)