ACLU Files Brief Supporting Student's Lawsuit Against Lower Merion School District

Student Alleges School Officials Spied on Him Using School-Issued Laptop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org

PHILADELPHIA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania today submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Lower Merion School District student who filed a lawsuit last week against school officials for allegedly using a school-issued laptop to take photos of the student at home without his knowledge.

“No government official, be it police officer or school principal, can enter a private home, physically or electronically, without an invitation or warrant. In this case the officials are not just entering the foyer, but a child’s bedroom,” said Vic Walczak, ACLU of Pennsylvania legal director. “Assuming the allegations are true, this is an egregious invasion of privacy.”

Although the ACLU of PA is not representing Blake Robbins, the student who filed the case, the organization has been contacted by numerous ACLU members and others who live in Lower Merion School District expressing their concern about the alleged actions of school officials.

“We filed the amicus brief to share our expertise in this area of constitutional law and to support the plaintiffs’ efforts to make sure this surveillance stops immediately,” said Walczak.

There is a hearing today in Robbins, et al. v. Lower Merion School District, et al. at 2:30 before Judge Jan DuBois in U.S. Federal Courthouse in Courtroom 12B. The court has invited the ACLU to participate in the hearing, and Mr. Walczak will do so by telephone.

A copy of the amicus brief is available here: www.aclupa.org/downloads/Robbinsfinal.pdf