Is Alabama's school employee-student sex law constitutional? A judge will decide
After hearing oral arguments this afternoon about the constitutionality of Alabama's law prohibiting school employees from having sex with students, Morgan County Circuit Judge Glenn Thompson said he has "a lot of reading to do."
Thompson said he needs to study written arguments that previously were submitted before he rules on whether the law is unconstitutional.
The question of constitutionality is being raised by defense attorneys for a former Decatur High School teacher and an ex-aid who worked at Falkville High School. Both schools are in Morgan County.
Carrie Witt, 43, taught history, psychology and social studies and coached girls' golf and junior varsity cheer at Decatur High. David Solomon, 26, was a contract aid at Falkville High. Each was charged in March 2016 with a class B felony on accusations they had sexual relationships with students under the age of 19. In both cases, authorities have said the students had surpassed the age of consent, which is 16. But according to a 2010 Alabama law, consent is not a defense.
Read more: http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2017/04/student-teacher_sex_alabama.html
