Expulsion of Perry v. School Board of Putnam County
Expulsion of Perry v. School Board of Putnam County
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
Jeff Perry, a thirteen year old former student at the Beasley Middle School, appeals his expulsion from the school for the first six weeks of the 1983-84 school year and his assignment to the alternative school program for the second and third grading periods. He was charged with violating Rule XI of the Putnam County School Board, “conduct subversive to good order at the school,” and was afforded a hearing before the Putnam County School Board. Jeff brought to school a pill, which he was told by a high school student was “speed,” and sold it to another student for $1.00. The nature of the pill was not established, and the parties concede no one knows whether it was actually an illegal drug.
Jeff raises numerous points on this appeal, some of which I think have merit. At the hearing, Jeff’s violation of Rule XI was established in primarily three ways: Jeffs handwritten confession and oral statements made to the school personnel; the transcribed testimony of another student at another hearing; and Jeffs own testimony. There is a serious constitutional problem with each. See Tinker v. Des Moines School District, 393 U.S. 503, 89 S.Ct. 733, 21 L.Ed.2d 731 (1969).
A student faced with disciplinary proceedings is not entitled to Miranda warnings
When Jeff was called to testify against himself at thé school board hearing, his attorney objected, but failed to specify Jeffs fifth amendment rights as the basis for his objection.
The final element of proof consisted of another student’s deposition testimony taken at a proceeding to which Jeff was not a party and at which he had no right of cross-examination. It was clearly hearsay and Jeff’s attorney challenged its admission on that basis.
I would reverse.
. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
. United States v. Parr-Pla, 549 F.2d 660 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 972, 97 S.Ct. 2935, 53 L.Ed.2d 1069 (1977); cf. Baxter v. Palmigiano, 425 U.S. 308, 96 S.Ct. 1551, 47 L.Ed.2d 810 (1976).
. In Re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (1967); Gonzales v. McEuen, 435 F.Supp. 460, (C.D.Cal. 1977); Caldwell v. Cannady, 340 F.Supp. 835 (N.D.Texas 1972); Kozerowitz v. Florida Real Estate Commission, 289 So.2d 391 (Fla. 1974); U.S. Const. art. V; Art. I, § 9, Fla. Const.
.See Hart v. Ferris State College, 557 F.Supp. 1379 (W.D.Mich. 1983); Gonzales.
Opinion of the Court
AFFIRMED.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.