Document: 458 U.S. 966 102 S.Ct. 3469 73 L.Ed.2d 1273 BOARD OF EDUCATION ROGERS, ARKANSAS, et al.v.Pete McCLUSKEY, by his next friend, Sally McCluskey. No. 81-1577. July 2, 1982. Rehearing Denied Sept. 9, See 1132, 103 16. PER CURIAM. 1 Respondent, a 10th-grade student in the Rogers, Ark. School District, left school on October 21, 1980, after first period without permission, and, with four other students, consumed alcohol and became intoxicated. When he returned to later that day go band trip, was notified suspended from school. His parents were their son had been pending hearing before Rogers Board; scheduled for 29. At Board, none of five students denied they drinking, Board voted expel all remainder semester. 2 Respondent immediately sought injunctive relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (1976 ed., Supp.IV), case heard United States District Court Western Arkansas December 4. The decided violated respondent's right substantive due process, ordered be granted credit semester during which references suspension expunged records. 3 Court's action based its interpretation Board's rules conclusions concerning invoked suspending respondent. There is no doubt authority suspend respondent §§ 9 10 written Policies Pupil Suspension. Section provides may or any "for good cause." defines "good cause," it includes "sale, use possession alcoholic beverages illegal drugs." Thus clearly within discretion becoming 4 acted 11 rules, mandatory when applies. provides: "For protection pupils grades 9-12, board shall loss semester's work pupil whenever has established satisfaction board, superintendent, principal, assistant charge, premises at sponsored activities (including trips) used, sold, influence of, narcotics hallucinogenics, drugs, controlled substances classified as such Act 590 1971, amended." 5 conflicting testimony section invoked. letters sent informing them cited both 11. Adams, member lawyer, testified motion McCluskey because doubts about applicability Chairman offenses past years. 6 found matter fact It then went decide did not apply alcohol.* applies "narcotics 590, Ark.Stat. Ann. 82-2602(e) (Supp.1981), specifically exempts coverage; therefore, "controlled substance." Nor "narcotic hallucinogenic." also concluded "drug." While technically drug, noted, considered drug common parlance. For this reason, concluded, unreasonably held process him terms 11, even though 10. 7 A divided Appeals Eighth Circuit affirmed. 662 F.2d 1263 (1981). reviewed conclusion rather than clearly-erroneous standard Federal Rule Civil Procedure 52(a), passed muster. affirmed holding cannot reasonably interpreted "the express only 'drugs' expressly exempt alcohol." F.2d, 1267. Wood v. Strickland, 420 308, 95 992, 43 214 (1975), distinguishable. stated "§ does extend relitigate federal court evidentiary questions arising disciplinary proceedings proper construction regulations." Id., 326, S.Ct., 1003. Although plainly courts authorized construe regulations, Strickland distinguishable construed regulations while here unreasonably. Judge McMillian dissented barred construing involved differently them. 8 requires reversed. high girls expelled "spiking" punch served meeting adding two bottles malt liquor. liquor an content 3.2% spiked estimated 0.91%. U.S., set aside girls' expulsions beverage punch, but state statute defined "intoxicating liquor" exceeding 5%, thought 5% rule should regulation. We erred substituting own notions board's definition rules: "[T]he ill advised supplant regulation those officers who adopted are entrusted enforcement." 325, 1002. continued, noted supra, stating (emphasis added). 12 distinguishing ground unreasonable "alcoholic beverage" reasonable. hypothesized so extreme violation surely case. Contrary Appeals, exempted coverage covers 590," coverage. Therefore, substance" But "drugs," conceded, Moreover, mandates drugs premises. 10, gives use, limited application reasonable conclude require including alcohol, premises, permitting off 13 In case, if Appeals' views struck us preferable Board's—which do not—the controls Strickland. requiring intoxicated grounds number years prior suspension, undisputed reason. replacing facts Accordingly, petition certiorari granted, judgment 14 Reversed. 15 Justice STEVENS, whom BRENNAN MARSHALL join, dissenting. 16 As REHNQUIST reminded us, "our zeal provide 'equal justice law,' we must never forget forum correction errors." Boag MacDougall, 454 364, 367-368, 700, 702, 70 551 (dissenting opinion). "To remain effective, Supreme continue cases present whose resolution will have immediate importance far beyond particular parties involved."1 This illustrates how ineffectively supervising discretionary docket. 17 sufficient warrant full briefing argument. worthy opinion signed Member Court. disposition explained anonymous author writing "per curiam"—that say, Court." ever-increasing numbers, appeals throughout system being fashion. uncommon issue opinions cases.2 one recent published case—which sufficiently important induce grant conflict circuits developed—the purported justify ad hoc adjudication asserting lacked "precedential character."3 threat quality our presented impersonalization bureaucratization judicial more serious generally recognized. Regrettably example kind resistance, encouragement, rising administrative tide. 18 too busy correct every error perceive among thousands litigants ask review. years, exercised jurisdiction issued per curiam rulings deciding summarily, most frequently come aid prosecutor warden rebuffed another court.4 Today exercise majestic power enforce much 1980. 19 If unjustly suspended, I wonder would consider national summary reversal. it. 20 respectfully dissent. * since amended remove question Address Chief Vinson American Bar Association, September 7, 1949 (quoted R. Stern & E. Gressman, Practice 258 (5th ed. 1978)). Reynolds Richman, Non-Precedential Precedent Limited Publication No-Citation Rules Courts 78 Colum.L.Rev. 1167 (1978); Note, Unreported Decisions 63 Cornell L.Rev. 128 (1977). Rowley Education Hendrick Hudson Central 632 945, 948 n.7 (CA2 1980), rev'd 176, 3034, 690. Term, see Duckworth Serrano, 1, 18, (1981); Jago Van Curen, 14, 31, Leeke Timmerman, 83, 69, 65 California ex rel. Cooper Mitchell Brothers' Santa Ana Theater, 90, 172, 262 Harris Rivera, 339, 460, 530 Hutto Davis, 370, 703, 556 (1982); Wainwright Torna, 455 586, 1300, 71 475 Sumner Mata, 591, 1303, 480 Fletcher Weir, 603, 1309, 490 Hollywood Motor Car Co., 263, 3081, 754; Michigan Thomas, 259, 3079, 750. (1982). certainly said egregious prosecutors wardens seek See, e.g., McKinney Estelle, 657 740 (CA5 1981), cert. 456 937, 1994, 72 456; Tejeda-Mata INS, 626 721 (CA9 994, 2280, 1291.

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