Hazelwood v.

Kuhlmeier (1988)

Robert, the assistant principle, deemed two articles inappropriate for the school news paper
and said they will not be printed. The authors of those articles took it to court saying Roberts
actions violated their first amendment rights. The defendant was Hazelwood school district. The
plaintiff was Kuhlmeier.

The court ruled that the girls first amendment rights were not violated. In a 5-3 vote for
Hazelwood the court said the school could do this because it set higher standerds for its students.
The majority opinion, given by Byron R White, said students do not have the same rights as
adults. The dissenting opinion, given by Marshall and Blackman, said that students do not give
up rights by stepping inside a school building.

The case helped establish that students do not have the same rights as adults.