ADF Files Lawsuit Claiming Calif. School Prevented Student From Forming Antiabortion Club

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 18 Jan 2008 - 9:00 PST

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The Alliance Defense Fund on Monday filed a lawsuit in San Jose, Calif., federal court on behalf of a high school student who claims officials at Westmont High School in Campbell, Calif., prevented her from forming an antiabortion club, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

ADF in the suit alleges that the school and the Campbell Union High School District discriminated against the student, identified as "P.A.," by failing to recognize the club. According to the suit, the antiabortion club, called the "Live Action" club, is "technically" allowed to meet on school grounds but does not receive the same support or recognition as other student groups. The suit, which seeks to overturn the school district's policy on student clubs, also states that Westmont officials did not allow the club to use "pro-life" in its name or advertise on the school's Web site, bulletin boards or through announcements. The suit says that P.A. "desires to share her religious and political views with her classmates."

Owen Hege, Westmont's principal, said he was surprised ADF did not call him before filing the suit because Live Action was awarded a similar trial status as other clubs trying to get established at the school. Hege said that he initially moved slowly with the student's request to form the club because it "tread[ed] in a sensitive area" but that he allowed the club to meet after consulting with district officials. ADF attorney David Cortman said Westmont "is clearly engaging in viewpoint discrimination when it denies" the club the "privileges extended to other groups." He added that public schools "should recognize the constitutional rights" of students who oppose abortion "just as they do for all other students" (Mintz, San Jose Mercury News, 1/16).

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