Harper v. Poway Unified School District

Harper v. Poway Unified School District (2003) was a legal case where Jesse Harper, a high school student, sued his school district after being suspended for wearing a T-shirt with a political message. The district claimed the shirt disrupted the school environment. The court ruled in favor of Harper, stating that students have a First Amendment right to free speech, especially when it doesn’t cause substantial disruption. The case affirmed that schools must balance maintaining order with respecting students’ free speech rights, and cannot discipline students for expressive conduct unless it significantly interferes with school functions.