Supreme Court won't revive Lewis-Palmer student's suit over grad speech

Former Monument high school student Erica Corder  lost her bid to have the U.S. Supreme Court review a suit she filed against Lewis-Palmer School District 38, claiming her free speech rights were violated because she was disciplined for proselytizing during her 2006 graduation speech.

Corder, now a senior at Wheaton College in Illinois, took the decision in stride.

“There was only a small chance that they would take it. It’s all in God’s hands,” she said Monday.

However, she said there needs to be more clarity in school laws so students know what they are allowed or not allowed to say at graduation and other school events.

Corder was among 15 valedictorians, all with 4.0 grade-point averages, who spoke at their 2006 graduation from Lewis-Palmer High School. Their speeches were reviewed beforehand by administrators. However, at graduation, Corder changed her speech and talked about Jesus.

In that talk, she said: “If you don’t already know him personally I encourage you to find out more about the sacrifice he made for you so that you now have the opportunity to live in eternity with him.”

Later, administrators made her submit a written apology in order to graduate. In an e-mail to the school, she said was sorry if anyone was offended.

Then, she sued — with help from Liberty Counsel, a conservative Florida-based litigation and policy organization.

School administrators argued that graduation was a school sponsored event, under direction and control of school officials, said Robin Adair, spokeswoman for Lewis-Palmer School District 38 in Monument.

“We are glad we don’t have to spent any more money and staff pursuing the issue,” Adair said Monday.

Mathew Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, said the suit might be dead, but the issue isn’t.

He noted that the court seemed interested in the issue, because they “conferenced” it twice, meaning they held two sessions about it before deciding not to review it. He predicts that more such cases will crop up, and when various federal courts have opposing opinions on the issue, the Supreme Court will take up the issue.

Corder, meanwhile, said would do it all again and give that speech at her graduation.

“I have learned to follow and obey the Lord in all that I do,” she said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.