Guzick v. Drebus

A high school had a long-standing policy forbidding students from wearing pin-on buttons with symbols or writing on the buttons. This high school had a racially diverse student population and had high racial tensions. High school student Thomas Guzick (plaintiff) ignored the no-button policy and wore a button soliciting participation in an anti-Vietnam War demonstration. Guzick and his friend approached the principal wearing antiwar buttons and requesting to hand out pamphlets to students about the demonstration. The principal refused to let the boys pass out the pamphlets. The principal also insisted Guzick and his friend remove their buttons, reminding them of the school’s long-standing policy prohibiting students from wearing buttons, badges, scarves, or other means of identifying themselves as supporters of a cause or bearing any messages unsupportive of education. Guzick’s friend complied and returned to class. Guzick refused to remove his pin and was suspended. Guzick sued the principal, the superintendent, and the school’s board of education (collectively, the school officials) (defendants) in federal district court, alleging that the school’s no-button policy violated his First Amendment rights. The school officials argued that the no-button policy was a long-standing policy aimed at providing a positive academic atmosphere and not targeted at suppressing any specific set of beliefs. The district court found in favor of the school officials and dismissed Guzick’s complaint. Guzick appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.