Judge defends school’s ban on Confederate threads

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A federal judge says a Tennessee school's ban on Confederate clothing was a reasonable attempt to prevent disruptions because of previous racial threats at the school.

TheGrio Staff

Aug 13, 2009

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge says a Tennessee school’s ban on Confederate clothing was a reasonable attempt to prevent disruptions because of previous racial threats at the school.

U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan threw out a former student’s free speech lawsuit against the school dress code, ruling Tuesday that there would be no retrial.

Anderson County High School had banned Tommy Defoe from wearing a belt buckle and T-shirt bearing the Confederate flag.

A jury had failed to reach a verdict in Defoe’s case nearly a year ago.

Defoe’s lawyers say the ruling, which was based on a federal appeals decision in a similar case, will likely be appealed.