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Pre-Part Information for 1Ls
The pre-part program is the 1L version of the Morris Tyler Moot Court competition. It is a low-stress, non-competitive opportunity to improve one’s brief-writing and oral argument skills by drafting a brief and participating in oral arguments. Participants are paired with one or more advisors from the Moot Court Board of Directors and receive substantive feedback from their advisors. In addition, participants are invited to attend workshops led by faculty members, practitioners, judges, and/or moot court board members. 1Ls who are interested in competing in the Morris Tyler competition are strongly encouraged to participate in the program.
The Spring 2009 pre-part case is Safford Unified School Dist. No.1 v. Redding (08-479):
On October 8, 2003, a Safford Middle School student turned over to Vice Principal Williams a white pill (later identified as prescription-strength ibuprofen), informing him that several students planned to take these pills at lunch time. The student identified another student, Marissa, as the source of the pill. Vice Principal Williams questioned Marissa, and a search of her person and belongings revealed additional prescription pills. Marissa told Vice Principal Williams that the plaintiff/respondent, Savana Redding, gave her the pills. Vice Principal Williams called Savana into his office, where she denied any involvement with the recovered pills. Not content with Savana's claims of innocence, Williams searched Savana's belongings but found nothing. He then ordered Savana to submit to a strip search in the presence of the school nurse. This search also revealed no pills or other contraband.
The Question Presented is: Whether the Fourth Amendment permits school officials to strip search a middle school student, after another student identifies that student as the source of contraband pills.
Guidelines for the pre-part program are contained in the Pre-Part Manual.
The Spring 2009 pre-part case is Safford Unified School Dist. No.1 v. Redding (08-479):
On October 8, 2003, a Safford Middle School student turned over to Vice Principal Williams a white pill (later identified as prescription-strength ibuprofen), informing him that several students planned to take these pills at lunch time. The student identified another student, Marissa, as the source of the pill. Vice Principal Williams questioned Marissa, and a search of her person and belongings revealed additional prescription pills. Marissa told Vice Principal Williams that the plaintiff/respondent, Savana Redding, gave her the pills. Vice Principal Williams called Savana into his office, where she denied any involvement with the recovered pills. Not content with Savana's claims of innocence, Williams searched Savana's belongings but found nothing. He then ordered Savana to submit to a strip search in the presence of the school nurse. This search also revealed no pills or other contraband.
The Question Presented is: Whether the Fourth Amendment permits school officials to strip search a middle school student, after another student identifies that student as the source of contraband pills.
