Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021)

Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. was a SCOTUS in the Classroom case. It was decided on June 23, 2021.

Each term Street Law selects the most classroom-relevant, student-friendly cases as our SCOTUS in the Classroom cases. Teachers are encouraged to conduct moot courts the same week the case is argued, giving students the opportunity to follow discussion and analysis in the news and listen to or read a transcript of the actual oral arguments.

Case Issue: 

Does Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, which holds that public school officials may regulate speech that would materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school, apply to student speech that occurs off campus?

Case Briefs:

• Brief of Petitioner: Mahanoy Area School District
• Brief of Respondent: B.L.

Oral Argument:

• Audio recording and transcript of the oral argument from the Supreme Court

Decision:

• Link to the opinion of the Court

News Articles and Resources:

• New York Times: “A Cheerleader’s Vulgar Message Prompts a First Amendment Showdown” (December 28, 2020)
• Education Week: “U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Whether Schools May Discipline Students for Internet Speech” (January 08, 2021)
• Education Week: “How a Cheerleader’s Snapchat Profanity Could Shape the Limits of Students’ Free Speech” (April 12, 2021)
• Street Law Student Speech Webinar Series: “Teaching Tinker Webinar with Mary Beth Tinker” (March 10, 2021)
• Street Law Student Speech Webinar Series: “Tinker v. Des Moines Student Webinar with Mary Beth Tinker” (March 17, 2021)
• Street Law Student Speech Webinar Series: “Teaching Mahanoy v. BL Webinar” (March 24, 2021)
• Street Law Student Speech Webinar Series: “Mahanoy v. BL Student Webinar” (March 31, 2021)

How to Conduct a Moot Court or a Mini-Moot Court:

• Classroom Guide to Moot Courts
• Mini-Moot Courts Resource Bundle and Video