Activity 3: Assessment of legal decisions

The Task

Complete the following reviews and assessments involving cases that are both historic and current. Your staff is responsible for researching the legal decisions, as well as working together to form conclusions about those decisions.

One summary is to be turned in from each group.

Historic court cases

1. Read the Selected Historic Decisions of the Supreme Court related to student journalism and free speech.
2. Choose two cases that your staff feels strongly for or against.
3. Why do you think the court decided as it did? Do you think the decision should have been different? Why or why not? How has the decision affected those involved?
4. After your staff has considered these questions, come to a consensus and write a summary of your group's opinion.

Current court cases

1. Read the current cases highlighted by the Student Press Law Center and Justice on Campus
2. Choose two cases that you feel have significant implications on the student press.
3. How do you think this case could affect student journalism? Has your staff encountered anything similar to the cases examined? What was done about the situation?
4. Your staff should consider these questions carefully and write a summary of your conclusions.

Resources

The following sites offer more information on these topics.

• Press Freedom for the Public School Student Media
• ACP Resources: It's the Law
• Supreme Court Educational Decisions

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