Full appeals court to hear "boobies" bracelet case

(AP) PHILADELPHIA -- A full federal appeals court will weigh an

eastern Pennsylvania school district's efforts to ban breast-cancer fundraising bracelets that say "I (heart) boobies!"

A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has been considering the case since April. Legal filings now indicate the entire 14-judge court in Philadelphia will hear it.

Two Easton Area Middle School students say their freedom of speech rights were violated when they were suspended for wearing the bracelets in 2010. District officials say the word is vulgar.

A federal judge ruled for the students last year. The district appealed to the three-judge panel.

Attorneys for both sides say the panel's draft opinion must have created enough disagreement to spur the full court to hear the case.

No date has been set.

[allgoodthgs74]

Breast cancer is not whimsical. These "slogans" reflect ignorance and a lack of empathy for breast cancer victims; it is undiginified and indeed vulgar. Both my mother and I have suffered from breast cancer and oddly enough, did not find it funny. True empathy is what clarifies whether this is right or wrong. What's next, a clever "expression" for testicular cancer?

[caljack430]

i <3 weewees

[Think3Times]

I went to the waterpark with my sister's kids last week and saw the bracelet on my nephew, the oldest of the bunch, I giggled and pointed out the bracelet to my mother (their grandmother of course) and she was taken by surprise and asked where he got it and he replied it's for cancer awareness (11 years old), she smiled and said aww thats wonderful! and we went on with our fun and nothing else was ever said.. and I'm humbled to admit that my reaction to it was the worst of all of us. I can't deny... the word boobies makes me giggle and I mean no offense at all.

[superdem1]

This is such prudish nonsense. These kids are fighting a disease that kills millions of women, this is what is important. They should be congratulated, not suspended from school. So they used a cute little word we all laugh at, so what ? Our society is insane when it comes to sex and our bodies, women prosecuted for feeding their babies using their breasts - what do you think breasts are for ? Now we have to have 14 judges to hear this case ? Are we back in the Middle Ages ? Shall we burn people at the stake ? We are knuckle dragging apes. By the way, there's a vehicle driving around on MARS right now - that didn't get there worrying about boobies !

[88Ronin]

What an absurd use of the legal system. Does it now do the dirty work for The Religious Police?

Were I a judge and a prosecutor brought tis case into court, I would cite the prosecutor for contempt of court.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

Since when did boobies become a "vulgar" word ?? Can you think of a bigger waste of money than this case ?

[john92021]

looks like the lawyers ended up with all the funds raised for cancer research. Maybe the court can rule against the disease and nullify death.

[djseavy]

While I think there are limits to what is appropriate in school, this should be a non-issue. It sounds like the officials who are pushing this have a hang-up derived from their own inability to accept the human body. Boobies is vulgar only if you interpret it that way. Instead of making it about vulgarity, the school, if the officials had any sense, would make this a positive event and support the cause.

[Mays2011]

They could be doing worse things than supporting breast cancer research, they're not being vulgar. i've seen t shirts that kids wear that are much worse...

[zarnon61]

They can support breast cancer in a multitude of ways without wearing this particular bracelet. What's next? I [heart] *******?

[Chinckley6]

True story.

[phwtb100]

"Two Easton Area Middle School students say their freedom of speech rights were violated..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


And THAT folks is WHY the young people in this country are so out of control! Their "freedom of speech" rights should have ended with their parents hand coming in contact with their behinds when they were 3 years old!!! KIDS do NOT have the RIGHT to FREEDOM OF SPEECH. They do NOT have the right to talk back, they do NOT have the right to be rude, they do NOT have the right to be hateful, and they do NOT have the right to be completely ill-mannered!!

If you are too young to FIGHT for the right, you don't get the RIGHT.

Ban the bracelet.

If the Cancer society can't come up with a better slogan than this, they need to fire their advertising executives.

[Chinckley6]

Excuse me? They DO have the right to freedom of speech. And they have the right to support breast cancer in any way they choose. You think young people are out of control because they have the freedom of speech?? YOU are the problem with this country and why it is struggling to let go of the horrible conservative past that plagues this country.

[Kwarrant]

I got an idea, since Americans are becoming more and more dumb: How about our education system (schools) began focusing on educating our children and youth as opposed to worrying about bracelets and shirts and the clothing students wear. You know what? The adults these days need TO GROW UP!! Kids arent making the alcohol, the drugs, the clothing...you adults do, and I am ashamed of you!! I am sick of my fellow "adults" ******** and throwing fits over such childish things, you guys bad mouth this generation but your the ones who raised them. ...now what? Looking for blame, look in the mirror.