Court confirms strip-search

By William R. Toler

While the mainstream media is focused on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the debacle that is ObamaCare, a case with dire consequences has slipped through the cracks.

Earlier this week, the 9 robed ones ruled that inmates could be strip-searched before entering a jail population, even for minor offenses. Civil libertarians seen this as yet another tooth pulled from the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures without a warrant.

The decision was 5-4, with Justice Anthony Kennedy siding with the more conservative contingent of the Court.

The background of the case is almost more appalling than the ruling. Albert Florence was arrested for an “unpaid” traffic violation and strip-searched twice at two separate New Jersey facilities within six days…all the while being held in custody without a hearing.

Supreme Court: School violated rights

By William R. Toler

In an assertion of the Fourth Amendment, the high court ruled 8-1 Thursday that school officials violated the privacy rights of Savana Redding when she was strip searched for ibuprofen.

The search took place in 2003 after a fellow student caught with ibuprofen claimed she got the pills from Redding. The assistant princpal had Redding’s bag searched before ordering a school nurse to conduct the strip search, which included Redding shaking out her bra and pulling her underwear out.

Redding was represented in this case by the American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU lawyer Adam Wolf said students can now breathe a sigh of relief. “Today’s ruling affirms that schools are not constitutional dead zones,” he said. “While we are disappointed with the Court’s conclusion that the law was not clear before today and therefore school officials were not found liable, at least other students will not have to go through what Savana experienced.”

School strip-search in Supreme Court

By William R. Toler

The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday for a case involving a strip-search of a student.

In 2003, Savana Redding was forced to take off all her clothes by school officials at Safford Middle School. The reason…400 mg ibuprofen.

Redding, an honor student, was called into the office and strip-searched after being named by a fellow student who had been caught with the prescription pills…the equivalent of two Advil tablets.