Ruling in a case that struck a chord with families nationwide, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday said that the strip search of an Arizona middle school girl in pursuit of drugs in 2003 was a violation of her Fourth Amendment right against improper search and seizure.
Eight justices mdash; all but Justice Clarence Thomas — agreed the search at a public school was excessive. But the justices divided over whether the assistant principal who ordered the search should be held liable for the constitutional violation. Justices John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg were the only justices who said the law on school searches was clear enough that the school official should have known it was illegal and should be liable. The others agreed the official deserved immunity from suit.
