Mom petitions Supreme Court over school officials’ hitting autistic daughter

A Louisiana mother is asking the Supreme Court to take up her legal battle concerning her autistic daughter and allegations against elementary school officials, who allegedly hit the girl at school.

Sonia Book said that on three occasions in 2020 officials at Schneckenburger Elementary School in Kenner slapped her daughter’s wrists despite corporal punishment being outlawed in the state.

Her daughter, identified only as S.B. in court papers, was 11 years old at the time and is nonverbal.

She found out from third parties about the alleged abuse and sued to protect her daughter’s constitutional rights.

But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against her, reasoning public school officials are immune from constitutional lawsuits.

She wants the high court to revisit the 5th Circuit’s ruling, which she says is in contrast to other circuit courts across the country.

“The abuse my daughter suffered at the hands of the adults she was supposed to be learning from took a toll on her, leaving her terrified of more hitting or yelling. No child should feel afraid to go to school,” Ms. Book wrote in The Hill.

“This case is bigger than me and my daughter. It’s about protecting the rights of schoolchildren throughout the region.”

It would take four justices to vote in favor of hearing Ms. Book‘s challenge.

A spokesperson from the Jefferson Parish School Board, the named defendant in the case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.