Layshock v. Hermitage School District

Western District of PA

Kim Watterson (Reed Smith); Vic Walczak (ACLUPA)

In early 2006, the ACLU filed suit against Hermitage School District (Mercer Co.) for suspenfding Hickory High School senior Justin Layshock because he created an online parody of his principal. In addition to a 10-day, out-of-school suspension, the administration ordered him to finish high school in the Alternative Education Program and forbid him from attending his own graduation in the spring. The school eventually permitted Justin to attend his regular classes, and he graduated in Spring 2006.

On July 10, 2007, a federal judge ruled that the school's suspension had been unconstitutional and ordered a jury trial to determine whether Justin is entitled to compensatory damages for the school district's violation of his First Amendment rights.

Press Releases

• Judge Finds Suspension of Student for Myspace Parody of School Principal Unconstitutional (July 11, 2007)

Related Documents

• Layshocks' statement (17k PDF)
• Statement of Vic Walczak (15k PDF)
• Justin's website (269k PDF)

Legal Documents

Complaint

• Layshock Complaint (77k PDF)

Decisions

• Court order Layshock (76k PDF)
• Layshock Order (154k PDF)