Board Of Education v. Pico

457 U.S. 853 (1982)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

The Respondent, Board of Education of Island Trees Union School District, identified nine books deemed by a conservative parent organization to be inappropriate for student reading. The parent organization determined that the books were offensive and immoral. As a consequence, contrary to recommendations from teachers and parents, the school board banned all but one of the nine books from the school libraries. Respondents, high school and junior high school students maintained that the board action violated the First Amendment Freedom of Speech Clause. The Respondents pursued injunctive relief to compel the school board to return the books to the library and reincorporate the books into their academic curriculum. The District Court granted the Petitioner’s summary judgment motion. The appeals court reversed. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the decision in favor of the Respondent school students.