Tinker v. Des Moines
By: Mckenzie, Wesley and Kobe
Background information
At a public school in Des Moines, Iowa, students organized a silent protest against the Vietnam War. They
planned to wear black armbands to express their views. However, before the students were able to
execute their plans, the principal caught wind of the protest and made an announcement stating that if any
student was seen wearing the alleged armband, they would be asked to take it off. Three students, John
and Mary Beth Tinker, and their friend Christopher Eckhardt refused to remove their bands and were then
suspended. Their parents sued the school, claiming it had violated their children's’ rights. Eventually, the
case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In COurt
●
●
●
●
AUS. District Court
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. Supreme Court
Final decision; February
24th, 1969
● Court rules in favor of
students. (7-2)
● “Students don’t shed their
constitutional rights at the
schoolhouse gates.”
Conclusion
Sources
By President Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships - Courts of Appeals
Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships - District Court's Judicial Vacancies
Current Judicial Vacancies Future Judicial Vacancies Confirmation Listing Judicial
Emergencies Arch. "Tinker v. Des Moines Podcast." United States Courts. Administrative
Office of the U.S. Courts, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
"Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District." Wikipedia. Wikimedia
Foundation, 28 July 2003. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
∗Unable to use hanging indentations.