Bong Case 4 SCOTUS

A student glorifying illegal drug use shouldn't be protected by the First Amendment, Ken Starr argued before the Supreme Court yesterday in the case of a high school student suspended for displaying a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during the Winter Olympics Torch Relay in Juneau, Alaska in 2002.

The majority seemed to be buying, writes Linda Greenhouse, with Roberts arguing that free speech shouldn't undermine a school's educational mission. Alito's questions suggested that his sympathies lay with the student, who claims the sign was intentional nonsense. (More John Roberts stories.)