Student, Arkansas school district settle lawsuit over Web site
By The Associated Press
08.18.00
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Jonesboro teen-ager and the Valley View
School District settled the boy's First Amendment lawsuit over an Internet site
out of court yesterday, but both sides refused to discuss details.
"At the suggestion of the court, the parties met and worked out a
solution," said Dan Buford, attorney for the school district.
The American Civil Liberties Union said the matter had been settled
"and the educational process can continue."
The ACLU sued the school district, contending the district made a
mistake when it suspended Justin Redman for 10 days. He was suspended for
producing a Web site that mirrored the school's official site, but included
sexually explicit photos and text, some of which named other students and
administrators.
The school district announced Aug. 16 that Redman would start school
Aug. 21 even though he hadn't attended sexual harassment counseling required by
the school as punishment for producing the Web site.
The school district announcement followed a second day of testimony in
the lawsuit.
As part of the agreement for him to advance to the 10th grade, the
15-year-old Redman agreed not to use the school's computers until the case was
resolved.
In its lawsuit, the ACLU claimed Redman's Web site was protected by
the First Amendment's free-speech guarantee and that the school district didn't
have the authority to punish him for something he created at home on his own
time.
The district's former dean of students, Gaylon Taylor, said the Web
site could have been viewed as a warning sign for future violent behavior.
Previous
Federal judge hears arguments in parody Web site case
Arkansas school district was overzealous in punishing student for site developed off-campus, say ACLU attorneys.
08.14.00
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