vernoniavacton

VERNONIA
515 U.S. 646 (1995)

__FACTS:__ D (Vernonia) required random drug testing of its student athletes in order to participate. P (James Acton and parents) sued the district stating that the drug testing program violated James Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights as well as, similar provisions in the Oregon Constitution.

__ISSUES/ANSWERS:__
 * 1) Is the student’s right to privacy being violated? No, not all subjective expectations of privacy are protect by the Fourth Amendment. The rights to privacy expectations also depend of legal relationships. In this case the subjects are students who are in temporary custody of the state.
 * 2) Is the school’s drug testing program a “reasonable” search under the Fourth Amendment? Yes. “…special needs, beyond the normal need for law enforcement, make the warrant and probable cause requirements impractical.” These “special needs” exist in public schools.

__BASIS/RATIONALE:__ Legal Basis- Precedents set in T.L.O and interpretation of Constitutional Amendments are they relate to public school settings Rational- When determining “reasonableness”, the public schools custodial and tutelary responsibilities for children need to be considered.

__Notes:__ The Vernonia School District noticed a rise in drug use and discipline problems. The student athletes were “the leaders of the drug culture.” Coaches also noticed a rise is drug related injuries. As a result, the district explored the idea of requiring random drug testing of its student athletes. At a “parent input night,” to discuss the proposed plan, all of the parents in attendance gave their approval. The school board approved the policy. James Acton, a seventh grader in Vernonia, wanted to play football. James and his parents would not sign the consent; therefore, he was not allowed to play. The district court ruled for the school district but the ninth circuit reversed the decision. The school district then requested that the Supreme Court hear the case. The U.S. Supreme Court held that Vernonia School District’s policy requiring student athletes to agree to random drug, in order to participate, is reasonable. Even though the tests are deemed as searches under the Fourth Amendment, the court stated that is was reasonable because the school is trying to prevent teen drug abuse.