Supreme Court wins

A couple of encouraging decisions* from the Supreme Court this morning. (My, it was productive.)

One, there is a case where a high school student decided to probe the limits of student free speech and unfurled a banner saying "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" as the torch for the winter Olympics passed by. (He wasn't serious about the message; he merely wanted to be provocative. He called it "nonsensical".) He was punished, and sued. The Supreme Court ruled against him. "Schools may prohibit student expression that can be interpreted as advocating drug use, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court." This will allow good order to be maintained in schools.

The second ruling pertains to funding faith-based initiatives. This pertains to President Bush's faith-based initiatives program. The Freedom From Religion Foundation sued, arguing this violates the Establishment clause. But the Supreme Court overturned that, warning that allowing the suit to go forward would mean allowing "the federal courts to superintend . . the speeches, statements, and myriad daily activities of the President" and his staff. (Note that normally you can't sue the government. A specific exception was granted earlier for some cases, and the plaintiffs wanted that extended to the executive branch.)

Also, "The court, split 5-4, upheld an appeals court ruling that an anti-abortion group should have been allowed to air ads during the final two months before the 2004 elections. The law unreasonably limits speech and violates the group's First Amendment rights, the court said."

So awesome! All and all, a great day for the Supreme Court.

*Link will expire around 7/1.