Factual Knowledge Is Critical in Legal Decision Making.

Abstract

Drug abuse is one of the most serious problems facing our nation. Fed' eral, state, and local governments are spending billions of dollars in a war on drugs, which includes a law enforcement presence on our borders, special drug courts to handle the many thousands of drug cases each year, and educa' tional programs designed to deter children from ever using drugs. One tactic to deter drug use that is increasingly used by school districts is to require certain categories of students, like athletes, to take a drug test if they want to participate in a school sport.As one can imagine, some parents, children, and civil liberties groups object to this practice and have challenged these policies. This was the situation with a 12-year-old named James Acton. James was an Oregon boy who wanted to play football but could not unless he agreed, like all other potential football players, to be subject to random drug tests. James and his parents sued their school district over the policy, and their case eventually was heard in the U.S. Supreme Court.