Federal court to hear appeal over "vulgar" bracelets

The battle of the boobies rages on.

The Easton Area School District's appeal of a federal court ruling that allows students to wear bracelets saying "I (heart) boobies!" in school will be heard by the entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

A three-judge panel from the circuit court heard arguments in April on the appeal, but an order issued Thursday by Chief Judge Theodore McKee brushed aside the panel's draft opinion and set up a rehearing of the case before the full 14-judge court.

Two Easton Area Middle School students say their freedom of speech rights were violated when they were suspended for wearing the bracelets in 2010. District officials say the word in a middle school setting is vulgar. A federal judge ruled for the students last year, barring the district from disciplining students who wear the bracelets, which raise money for breast cancer research. The district appealed to the three-judge panel. No date on the appeals hearing has been set. - Kathy Boccella