wood strickland argued october decided february respondent arkansas high school students expelled school violating school regulation prohibiting use possession intoxicating beverages school school activities brought suit petitioner school officials claiming expulsions infringed respondents rights due process seeking damages injunctive declaratory relief district directed verdicts petitioners ground immune damages suits absent proof malice sense ill toward respondents appeals finding facts showed violation respondents rights substantive due process since decisions expel respondents made basis evidence regulation violated reversed remanded appropriate injunctive relief new trial question damages held basis tradition public policy school officials entitled qualified immunity liability damages immune liability knew reasonably known action took within sphere official responsibility violate constitutional rights student affected took action malicious intention cause deprivation rights injury student compensatory award appropriate school officials acted impermissible motivation disregard student clearly established constitutional rights action reasonably characterized good faith pp regulation question construed record shows construed responsible school officials prohibit use possession beverages containing alcohol rather erroneously construed appeals refer beverages containing excess certain alcoholic content absence evidence prove charge respondents hence appeals contrary judgment improvident section extend right relitigate federal evidentiary questions arising school disciplinary proceedings proper construction school regulations intended vehicle correction errors exercise school officials discretion rise level violations specific constitutional guarantees pp since district discuss whether procedural due process violation appeals decide issue appeals rather consider question first instance pp white delivered opinion parts iii iv members joined part ii douglas brennan stewart marshall joined powell filed opinion concurring part dissenting part burger blackmun rehnquist joined post ross smith argued cause petitioners brief herschel friday ben core argued cause filed brief respondents raymond marks filed brief childhood government project amicus curiae justice white delivered opinion respondents peggy strickland virginia crain brought lawsuit petitioners members school board time question two school administrators special school district mena purporting assert cause action claiming federal constitutional rights due process infringed color state law expulsion mena public high school grounds violation school regulation prohibiting use possession intoxicating beverages school school activities complaint amended prayed compensatory punitive damages petitioners injunctive relief allowing respondents resume attendance preventing petitioners imposing sanctions result expulsion restraining enforcement challenged regulation declaratory relief constitutional invalidity regulation expunction record expulsion declaration mistrial arising jury failure reach verdict district directed verdicts favor petitioners ground petitioners immune damages suits absent proof malice sense ill toward respondents supp wd ark appeals finding facts showed violation respondents rights substantive due process reversed remanded appropriate injunctive relief new trial question damages petition rehearing en banc denied three judges dissenting see certiorari granted consider whether application due process appeals warranted whether expression standard governing immunity school board members liability compensatory damages correct one violation school regulation prohibiting use possession intoxicating beverages school school activities respondents charged concerned spiking punch served meeting extracurricular school organization attended parents students time question respondents years old grade relevant facts begin discovery punch prepared meeting previously planned girls agreed spike since county school located dry respondents third girl drove across state border oklahoma purchased two bottles right time malt liquor bought six bottles soft drink mixed contents eight bottles empty milk carton returned school prior meeting girls experienced second thoughts wisdom prank caught force events intervention girls prevented disposing illicit punch punch served meeting without apparent effect ten days later teacher charge extracurricular group meeting curtis powell heard something spiking questioned girls although first denying knowledge girls admitted involvement teacher said handle punishment next day however told girls incident becoming increasingly subject talk school principal waller probably hear told job jeopardy force admit waller done go however able help incident became distorted three girls went waller admitted role affair suspended school maximum period subject decision school board waller also told board meet night girls tell parents meeting parents contact members board neither girls parents attended school board meeting night powell waller making reports concerning incident recommended leniency point telephone call received inlow superintendent schools powell husband also teacher high school reported heard third girl involved fight evening basketball game inlow informed meeting news although mention name girl involved powell waller withdrew recommendations leniency board voted expel girls school remainder semester period approximately three months board subsequently agreed hold another meeting matter one held approximately two weeks first meeting girls parents counsel attended session board began reading written statement facts found girls admitted mixing malt liquor punch intent spiking asked board forgo rule punishing violations substantial suspensions neither powell waller present meeting board voted change policy expel girls remainder semester ii district instructed jury decision respondents premised upon finding petitioners acted malice expelling defined malice meaning ill person wrongful act done intentionally without cause excuse ruling petitioners jury unable agree district found matter law evidence malice inferred appeals however viewed instruction decision district erroneous specific intent harm wrongfully held requirement recovery damages instead need established defendants light circumstances act good faith test objective rather subjective one omitted petitioners members school board assert absolute immunity liability least seek reinstate judgment district correct district dismissal sustained need go case moreover immunity question involves construction federal statute practice deal possibly dispositive statutory issues reaching questions turning construction constitution cf hagans lavine essentially sustain position appeals respect immunity issue nature immunity awards damages available school administrators school board members question lower federal courts answered single voice general agreement existence good faith immunity courts either emphasized different factors elements good faith given specific content standard decided three cases dealing scope immunity protecting various types governmental officials liability damages tenney brandhove question found one essentially statutory construction nothing language silent respect immunities concluded basis believing congress intended eliminate traditional immunity legislators civil liability acts done within sphere legislative action immunity well grounded history reason absolute consequently depend upon motivations legislators pierson ray finding legislative record gives clear indication congress meant abolish wholesale immunities enacting concluded doctrine absolute judicial immunity survived similarly preclude application traditional rule policeman making arrest good faith probable cause liable damages although person arrested proves innocent consequently said although matter entirely free doubt consideration seem require excusing liability acting statute reasonably believed valid later held unconstitutional face applied omitted finally last term held chief executive officer state senior subordinate officers state national guard president university absolutely immune liability instead entitled immunity prior precedent light obvious need avoid discouraging effective official action public officers charged considerable range responsibility discretion acted good faith defined varying scope qualified immunity available officers executive branch government variation dependent upon scope discretion responsibilities office circumstances reasonably appeared time action liability sought based existence reasonable grounds belief formed time light circumstances coupled belief affords basis qualified immunity executive officers acts performed course official conduct scheuer rhodes facts case reveal school board members function different times nature legislators adjudicators school disciplinary process functions necessarily involves exercise discretion weighing many factors formulation policy like legislators judges officers entitled rely traditional sources factual information decide act scheuer rhodes supra omitted executive officers faced instances civil disorder school officials confronted student behavior causing threatening disruption also obvious need prompt action decisions must made reliance factual information supplied others ibid liability damages every action found subsequently violative student constitutional rights caused compensable injury unfairly impose upon school decisionmaker burden mistakes made good faith course exercising discretion within scope official duties school board members among duties must judge whether violations school regulations appropriate sanctions violations denying measure immunity circumstances contribute principled fearless intimidation pierson ray supra imposition monetary costs mistakes unreasonable light circumstances undoubtedly deter even conscientious school decisionmaker exercising judgment independently forcefully manner best serving interest school students capable candidates school board positions might deterred seeking office heavy burdens upon private resources monetary liability likely prospect tenure considerations undoubtedly played prime role development state courts qualified immunity protecting school officials liability damages lawsuits claiming improper suspensions expulsions time judgment implicit development absolute immunity justified since sufficiently increase ability school officials exercise discretion forthright manner warrant absence remedy students subjected intentional otherwise inexcusable deprivations tenney brandhove pierson ray scheuer rhodes drew upon similar background animated similar judgment construing absent legislative guidance rely sources determining whether extent school officials immune damage suits think must degree immunity work schools go forward however worded immunity must public school officials understand action taken fulfillment responsibilities within bounds reason circumstances punished need exercise discretion undue timidity public officials whether governors mayors police legislators judges fail make decisions needed act implement decisions made fully faithfully perform duties offices implicit idea officials immunity absolute qualified acts recognition may err concept immunity assumes goes assume better risk error possible injury error decide act scheuer rhodes omitted iii appeals based upon review facts without benefit transcript testimony given trial jury district found board made decision expel girls basis evidence school regulation violated justify suspension necessary board establish students possessed used intoxicating beverage activity evidence presented either meeting establish alcoholic content liquid brought campus moreover board made finding liquid intoxicating evidence nature drink supplied girls clear know whether beverage intoxicating appeals interpreted school regulation prohibiting use possession intoxicating beverages linked definition intoxicating liquor arkansas statutes restrict term beverages alcoholic content exceeding weight testimony trial however established convincingly term intoxicating beverage school regulation intended time adoption linked definition state statutes technical definition intoxicating adoption regulation time school board concerned previous episode applied prior respondents case another student charged possession beer statement facts issued prior onset litigation school board expressed construction regulation finding girls brought alcoholic beverage onto school premises girls admitted knowing time incident something wrong might punished light evidence appeals ill advised supplant interpretation regulation officers adopted entrusted enforcement cf grayned city rockford regulation construed prohibit use possession beverages containing alcohol absence evidence school board prove charge respondents girls admitted intended spike punch mixed malt liquor punch served third girl estimated time admissions waller malt liquor alcohol content expulsion decision made litigation begun conclusively determined malt liquor fact alcohol content exceeding weight testimony trial put alcohol content punch served given fact evidence supporting charge respondents contrary judgment appeals improvident role federal courts set aside decisions school administrators may view lacking basis wisdom compassion public high school students substantive procedural rights school see tinker des moines independent community school district west virginia state board education barnette goss lopez extend right relitigate federal evidentiary questions arising school disciplinary proceedings proper construction school regulations system public education evolved nation relies necessarily upon discretion judgment school administrators school board members intended vehicle corrections errors exercise discretion rise level violations specific constitutional guarantees see epperson arkansas tinker supra iv respondents complaint alleged procedural due process rights violated action taken petitioners app district discuss claim final opinion appeals viewed presenting substantial question concluded girls denied procedural due process first school board meeting also intimated second meeting may cured initial procedural deficiencies found substantive due process violation however reach conclusion procedural issue respondents argued procedural due process violation also supports result reached appeals brief respondents district discuss appeals decide preferable appeals consider issue first instance judgment appeals vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes appeals noted reinstatement longer possible since term expulsion ended respondents entitled records expulsions expunged relieved continuing punishment suspension valid causes suspension school first offense pupils found guilty following shall suspended school first offense balance semester suspension noted permanent record student along reason suspension use intoxicating beverage possession school school sponsored activity app facts found school board virginia crain peggy strickland jo wall students mena high school subject governing rules policies mena high school february three girls charged responsibility providing refreshments school function gathering students home economic class parents school premises auditorium building mena high school direction curtis powell three girls question traveled oklahoma purchased number bottles malt liquor beer type beverage later went onto school premises alcoholic beverage put two bottles drink punch liquid refreshment served members class parents app taking correspondence course extra course later girls able graduate class tr oral arg original complaint respondents sought injunctive declaratory relief app amended complaint added prayer compensatory punitive damages trial jury district ruling motions declaring mistrial appears treated case developed one damages since entered judgment petitioners dismissed complaint basis defense joint motion new trial respondents specifically argued district erred treating case one recovery damages failing give trial ruling claims injunctive declaratory relief district denied motion upon appeal respondents renewed contentions appeals finding substantive due process violation directed district give respondents injunction requiring expunction expulsion records restraining continuing punishment petitioners urge reverse appeals order complaint dismissed brief petitioners respondents however stress relief sought included equitable relief brief respondents light record case uncertain basis district judgment immunity damages ordinarily bar equitable relief well opinion appeals entirely dispel uncertainty case posture better course proceed directly question immunity school board members mclaughlin tilendis case relied upon appeals immunity extended school board members superintendent schools extent establish decisions founded justifiable grounds cf scoville board ed joliet township cert denied smith losee en banc cert denied immunity protecting university officials described one good faith absence malice facts officials showed good valid reason decision although another reason reasons advanced nonrenewal discharge may constitutionally impermissible district kirstein rector visitors university virginia supp ed extended immunity action taken good faith accordance long standing legal principle see also skehan board trustees bloomsburg state college handverger harvill cert denied wood goodman supp mass thonen jenkins supp ednc taliaferro state council higher education supp ed vanderzanden lowell school district supp jones jefferson county board education supp ed adamian university nevada supp boyd smith supp nd ind hayes cape henlopen school district supp del schreiber joint school district gibraltar supp ed endicott van petten supp holliman martin supp wd mcdonough kelly supp nh cordova chonko supp nd ohio gouge joint school district supp wd congress general language statute mean overturn tradition legislative freedom achieved england civil war carefully preserved formation state national governments mean subject legislators civil liability acts done within sphere legislative activity let us assume merely moment congress constitutional power limit freedom state legislators acting within traditional sphere big assumption make even rasher assumption find congress thought exercised power difficulties hurdle limits statute spelled debate believe congress staunch advocate legislative freedom impinge tradition well grounded history reason covert inclusion general language us see donahoe richards dritt snodgrass mo mccormick burt board education cartersville purse board ed city covington booth morrison city lawrence mass sorrels matthews douglass campbell ark barnard shelburne mass sweeney young absolute immunity acts taken within range general authority see also jur schools pp schools school districts prosser law torts ed hamilton reutter legal aspects school board operation see generally campbell cunningham mcphee organization control american schools overwhelming majority school board members elected office see white local school boards organization practices office education bulletin national school boards association survey public education member cities council big city boards education campbell cunningham mcphee supra school board members across country receive little monetary compensation service white supra national school boards association supra campbell cunningham mcphee supra school directors authorized duty adopt reasonable rules government management school deter responsible suitable men accepting position held liable damages pupil expelled rule adopted impression welfare school demanded courts deem improper dritt snodgrass time appeals decision testimony trial jury transcribed counsel concern limiting litigation costs tr oral arg transcript filed district certiorari granted app see also vachon new hampshire gregory chicago johnson florida shuttlesworth city birmingham garner louisiana cf boilermakers hardeman say requirements procedural due process attach expulsions past years courts appeals without exception held procedural due process requirements must satisfied student expelled see goss lopez see ark stat ann appeals referred comments seemed also adopt construction made district findings fact denied respondents motion preliminary injunction app noting district initial view petitioners find difficult prove requisite alcoholic content appeals expressed puzzlement failure lower discuss absence evidence final opinion district however indicated instructions question proper construction regulation relevant jury found school officials good faith considered malt liquor punch fall within regulation district ultimate conclusion apparently made unnecessary final decision coverage regulation despite construction present regulation appeals indicated school board authority prohibit use possession alcoholic beverages continue policy proscribing intoxicating beverages two members school board time regulation adopted testified discussion tying regulation state alcohol control act intent board members cover beer tr testimony petitioner wood testimony gerald goforth see minutes board meeting regulation adopted app see also tr testimony mary spencer also board member regulation adopted goforth student suspended october possession beer school activity indication record alcoholic content beer see tr testimony former superintendent inlow see supra soon litigation begun board issued statement said regulation prohibits use possession alcoholic beverage school premises app see tr strickland crain percentage content established deposition officer company produces right time malt liquor app tr testimony turner justice powell chief justice justice blackmun justice rehnquist join concurring part dissenting part join parts iii iv opinion agree judgment appeals vacated case remanded dissent part ii appears impose higher standard care upon public school officials sued heretofore required official holding immunity issue set forth margin impose personal liability school official acted sincerely utmost good faith found fact acted ignorance settled indisputable law ante also puts school official must held standard conduct based good faith also knowledge basic unquestioned constitutional rights charges ante moreover ignorance law explicitly equated actual malice ante harsh standard requiring knowledge characterized settled indisputable law leaves little substance doctrine qualified immunity decision appears rest unwarranted assumption lay school officials know know law constitutional rights officials act peril judge jury subsequently finding belief applicable law mistaken hence actionable standard required knowledge two cryptic phrases settled indisputable law unquestioned constitutional rights presumably intended mean thing although meaning neither phrase likely constitutional law scholars much less average school board member one need look decisions reversals recognition evolving concepts splits recognize hazard even informed prophecy unquestioned constitutional rights consider example recent decision goss lopez holding junior high school pupil routinely suspended much single day entitled due process suggest lawyers judges thought prior decision law contrary settled indisputable unquestioned less year ago scheuer rhodes opinion joined participating members considerably less demanding standard liability approved respect two highest officers state governor adjutant general case estates students killed kent state university sued officials weighing competing claims concluded considerations suggest varying scope qualified immunity available officers executive branch government variation dependent upon scope discretion responsibilities office circumstances reasonably appeared time action liability sought based existence reasonable grounds belief formed time light circumstances coupled belief affords basis qualified immunity executive officers acts performed course official conduct emphasis added school boards five members thousands school superintendents school principals school board members popularly elected drawn citizenry large possess unique competency divining law cities counties provide compensation service school boards often difficult persuade qualified persons assume burdens important function society moreover even counsel advice constitutes defense may safely assumed school boards school officials ready access counsel indeed deemed necessary consult counsel countless decisions necessarily must made operation public schools view today decision significantly enhancing possibility personal liability one must wonder whether qualified persons continue desired numbers volunteer service public education disagreement appeals district immunity standard case put terms objective versus subjective test good faith see appropriate standard necessarily contains elements official must acting sincerely belief right act violating student constitutional rights justified ignorance disregard settled indisputable law part one entrusted supervision student daily lives presence actual malice entitled special exemption categorical remedial language case action violated student constitutional rights school board member voluntarily undertaken task supervising operation school activities students must held standard conduct based permissible intentions also knowledge basic unquestioned constitutional rights charges standard neither imposes unfair burden upon person assuming responsible public office requiring high degree intelligence judgment proper fulfillment duties unwarranted burden light value civil rights legal system lesser standard deny much promise therefore specific context school discipline hold school board member immune liability damages knew reasonably known action took within sphere official responsibility violate constitutional rights student affected took action malicious intention cause deprivation constitutional rights injury student say school board members charged predicting future course constitutional law pierson ray compensatory award appropriate school board member acted impermissible motivation disregard student clearly established constitutional rights action reasonably characterized good faith ante opinion indicates actual malice presumed one acts ignorance law thus appear even reliance advice counsel avail rationale goss suggests example school officials may infringe student right education place track deny promotion class without affording due process hearing see powell dissenting mean school officials fail provide hearings future liable subsequently determines required another current example unsettled constitutional law deemed least quite settled may turn see decision opinions north georgia finishing compare justice stewart dissent mitchell grant decision scheuer respect qualified immunity consistent chief justice warren opinion pierson ray said jury believed testimony officers disbelieved ministers jury found officers reasonably believed good faith arrest constitutional verdict officers follow even though arrest fact unconstitutional scheuer standard prescribed one acting good faith accordance reasonable belief action lawful justified even police officers held liable ignorance settled indisputable law