A high school graduation commencement speaker (McComb v. Crehan, 08-1566) requested a writ of certiorari to bring a her case before the Supreme Court. The case was based on the facts that as a commencement speaker in 2006 with an approved script, Britttany McComb purposfully revised and improvised the speach with direct religious comments. Her microphone was turned off. She claimed a violation of constitutional rights.
A federal appeals court ruled against her. The Supreme Court turned down her request on Monday November 16, 2009. http://news.findlaw.com/ap/a/w/1154/11-16-2009/20091116072009_28.html
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I agree not only with the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case but also with the school's decision to turn off her microphone. In her capacity as commencement speaker Brittany was an invited guest of the school. While her religious faith is not something that the school has a right to criticize or judge, the school does have the right to ask her not to speak on the topic. She attends a public school which by the Constitution in which she was using to defend her actions prohibits the federal government from exercising influence over religion. The school is essentially a subordinate of the state and therefore must follow the same principals as the federal government. Allowing her to continue to speak would have violated the Constitution. Furthermore, the student misrepresented her speech and herself when she turned in a completely different speech for review.
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