Overview

• The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2–1 on Tuesday that Tri County Middle School did not violate the First Amendment by barring the shirts.
• Judges John Nalbandian and Karen Nelson Moore wrote that “in the schoolhouse, vulgarity trumps politics” and that euphemistic profanity may be prohibited.
• Judge John Bush dissented, calling the phrase a protected form of political criticism that contains no actual profanity or sexual content.
• The case stems from two brothers told in 2022 to remove the garments, with an assistant principal saying the slogan “means the F-word,” according to the opinion.
• The district said it allows other political attire, including pro-Trump messages, and it was not immediately clear whether the students will seek further review.