What I've Always Wanted in a Judge

[daltong]

The issue--whether or not a school can regulate the length of hair of its students--is a minor one, except of course for its civil rights implications. But the way the judge ruled--his rationale and his explanations--is just so logical and delicious.

To Mullit or not to Mullit(It also makes me proud that this was a judge in Rhode Island. Not

Comments

[emmett_the_sane]

That is, indeed, a very well thought out ruling! :)

[vvvexation]

Holy shit, that judge wins. I hope this sets a precedent.

[wordweaverlynn]

Great post -- it's wonderful to see democracy winning for a change.

I wonder if the judge would like to be President?

This is Not a Good Thing.

[dream44]

'Fortunato also noted that the decision does not improperly open the door for governmental meddling into the affairs of private schools. He wrote, "This decision does not in any way interfere with the curriculum of St. Raphael Academy, its mission statement, or the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church with which it is affiliated." '

Perhaps not, but this was a private school. By making this asinine ruling, this judge has blatantly trampled the rights of the school to freedom of association, which inherently includes the right to freedom of dis-association. As a private entity, a private school should have the right to set whatever dress, grooming, and behaviour codes it likes. If the student and his parents don't like it, they can go to another school. That's what private school means. If this were a public school where issues of governmental control over individual civil liberties were at hand, this ruling might be acceptable, but as it is this is a disaster.