Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal over “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirt ban
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a Michigan middle school's decision to bar two students from wearing “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirts, leaving the lower courts' rulings in place.
Students identified as D.A. and X.A. sued Tri County Middle School after it barred them from wearing sweatshirts with the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon,” a slogan used by conservatives as a veiled insult to President Joe Biden. Citing the First Amendment, the students claimed the ban infringed on their right to political expression. Lower courts rejected the claim, applying the 1986 Fraser decision that permits schools to prohibit vulgar or lewd speech, and classified the slogan as profanity based on its meaning.
The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal, issuing no dissenting opinions. In its brief, the school warned that permitting sanitized vulgar terms could lead to broader challenges to dress-code policies, citing numerous slang examples. The denial leaves the Fraser-based rulings intact, maintaining the school's authority to restrict such apparel.
Why it matters
The decision shows how courts balance student free-speech rights against schools' ability to regulate vulgar language.
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