Vernonia School District

47J V. ACTON 515 U.S. 646 (1995)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

The Vernonia School District 47J (D) implemented a Student Athlete Drug Policy in 1989. This policy applied to all students who participated in interscholastic athletics. These students and their parents had to sign a consent form agreeing to the testing of the student's urine for drugs. All athletes were tested at the beginning of the season. Also, 10% of the athletes' names were drawn at random each week of the season to be tested. Only certain school officials had access to the test results, and the results were not kept for more than one year. In 1991, seventh-grader James Acton (P) was denied participation in the football program because he and his parents refused to sign the testing consent forms. P sued D in District Court, who denied the claims on the merits and dismissed the action. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed, holding that the drug testing policy of D violated both the 4th and 14th Amendments. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.