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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Court OK’s Punishment|for Student’s ‘Horny’ Clip

(CN) - An Arkansas student was properly banned from high school graduation after he played an audio clip of a female student saying "Oh my gosh, I'm horny!" from his cell phone during a school speech, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled.

While Payne Walters was speaking at a school event called Class Day, he played the "Oh my gosh, I'm horny!" audio clip from his cell phone.

Payne was suspended for three days, which included graduation. Payne and his parents, Kevin and Jacqueline Walters, sued the Horatio School District, claiming Payne's due process rights were violated.

The Walters family protested that the punishment was too severe and was partially motivated by the fact that the female student's father was a member of the school board.

They also said the word "horny" was not obscene. The school board disagreed, responding that the clip contained "vulgar or obscene language ... showing disrespect."

The trial court sided with the school board, and the state Supreme Court upheld the decision.

"The problem ... is that the Walterses have not provided this court with any convincing argument or citation to authority on which to reverse," Justice Paul Danielson wrote.

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