Bender v. Williamsport Area School District

475 U.S. 534 (1986)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Students asked permission to have an activity club at school. The club was called Petros, and it involved religious activity. Eventually, the School Board decided that they could not allow such a club. The students sued under the First Amendment; they asked for declaratory and injunctive relief. The District Court ruled in favor of the students by holding that the School Board was incorrect in its legal advice. No injunction was issued, and no relief was granted. A member of the Board, Youngman, filed an appeal. In the Court of Appeals, no one raised the issue of Youngman's standing to appeal. The Court of Appeals found for the Board. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.