SAN FRANCISCO – A U.S. appeals court determined July 11 that an Arizona school violated the constitutional rights of a 13-year-old eighth grade student by performing a strip search to find ibuprofen, according to the Los Angeles Times. During that search, the medication was not found.
The original lawsuit, filed by the student’s parents had been overturned twice. However, in a 6-5 vote, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the lawsuit.
Safford Middle School honor student Savana Redding was strip searched after another student accused the girl of handing out ibuprofen. Two female school officials conducted the search after assistant principal Kerry Wilson ordered the women to disrobe Redding. The girl was asked to partially remove her bra, exposing herself to the two women, and told to shake the crotch of her underwear, causing the girl to reveal parts of her pelvic area.
The court ruled the search as unjustified, as officials did not confirm whether or not the student accusing Redding of having the medication was telling the truth. Additionally, the court ruled that the assistant principal was liable for monetary damages, as he ordered the two women to conduct the search. The two officials were not held liable.
For more information:
