What Are Pete Wright’s Predictions in Perez v. Sturgis?

On January 18, 2023, the Supreme Court heard Oral Argument in Perez v Sturgis Public Schools. What is this case about? Why does the case matter? Who is likely to prevail?

Miguel Luna Perez, compliments of the Perez family.

Perez v. Sturgis is a case brought by  Miguel Luna Perez, a child who was deaf when he enrolled in Sturgis Public Schools at age nine. Miguel Luna required a qualified interpreter, sign language instruction, and special education and related services that met his unique needs as a deaf child and English language learner.

The school district failed to provide any of these services. They assigned Miguel Luna to an “educational assistant who did not know sign language . . . had no credentials whatsoever . . . and invented her own system of signing.”

For twelve years, the school district passed Miguel Luna from grade to grade. The district inflated his grades to As and Bs so he made the honor roll. Miguel Luna did not learn how to read or write. He couldn’t hear his teachers so he didn’t learn subjects like science, history, literature, and geography. A few weeks before graduation, school officials told his family he would receive a certificate of completion, not a high school diploma.

To learn more about Miguel Luna Perez and his case, read
Will the Supreme Court’s decision Help or Harm Students?

Oral Argument at the Supreme Court

On January 19, 2023, Pete and Pam Wright attended Oral Argument at the Supreme Court. While observing the Oral Argument, Pete paid close attention to the non-verbal body language of the Justices as the attorneys attempted to answer questions.

On occasion, as they listened to the questions and answers, the Justices displayed quick, fleeting involuntary facial gestures and shifts in body posture. These behaviors were telling and may provide insight into the perspective of a Justice. Pete made notes of the questions and of each Justice’s nonverbal body language as he attempted to predict how each Justice was leaning, pro-child or pro-school district. You will find Pete’s predictions at the end of this post.

[Wrightslaw Note: Pete was in graduate school (psychology) in the early 1970s. He took a social psychology group dynamics class that focused on the nonverbal body language displayed in group meetings. Pete was influenced by the book, How To Read A Person Like A Book by Gerard I. Nierenberg and Henry H. Calero (published in 1973, newer editions available). Over the years, many books have been published on this subject by authors who asserted that the most important aspect of individual and group communication is non-verbal and silent.]

After Perez’ attorney Martinez made his opening statement, Justice Clarence Thomas asked the first questions and issued positive comments. Chief Justice Roberts had questions about relief under IDEA and the ADA.

Justice Kagan had questions about parallel proceedings under IDEA and the ADA. Justice Jackson concurred that Congress intended for relief to be available under both statutes.

Justice Alito had questions about remedies, relief, and exhaustion. Justice Barrett had questions about the acceptance and rejection of settlement offers under IDEA and ADA. Justice Jackson focused on legislative history and Congress’ intentions when they enacted IDEA and the ADA.

Perez’s attorney Martinez asserted “I think the legislative history is also helpful on our argument that I’m quoting again — ‘exhaustion of administrative remedies would be excused where they would not be required to be exhausted under the IDEA such as when resort to those proceedings would be futile.'” 

Justice Gorsuch said ”most of the courts of appeals have gravitated around a rule that a futility exception to the exhaustion requirement does exist . . . What’s wrong with that rule?” he asked

Justice Barrett responded, “there is a futility exception in most circuit courts and the sky hasn’t fallen as a result.”

Justice Kagan said Miguel Luna and his family “did everything right” when they settled his IDEA claims with the school district before filing a lawsuit for monetary damages under the ADA.

School district attorney Dvoretzky argued that IDEA’s exhaustion requirement is intended to prevent parents from circumventing IDEA by taking their claims directly to federal court.

Justice Kagan retorted, “I don’t know that your view of how school districts are going to operate is always going to be true. As between the two, it strikes me that actually it’s the parents who have the greater incentive to get the education fixed for their child.”

Justice Kagan added, “This isn’t litigation run by a lot of rapacious lawyers, you know. This is litigation being run by parents who are trying to do right by their kids.”

Miguel Luna Perez needs 5 justices to prevail. What are Pete’s predictions?

Pete’s Predictions about Justices’ Positions

Pro-child: 6
Pro-school: 1
Unclear: 2

To find out how accurate Pete’s predictions were, we will have to wait until SCOTUS issues its decision in Perez v. Sturgis. A decision is expected by June 30, 2023.

Curious about Oral Arguments?

You can listen to the Oral Argument (1:28 min) and read the transcript (99 pages double-spaced) in Perez v. Sturgis here.

In an interview before Oral Argument, Miguel Luna Perez made a statement:

At the Michigan School for the Deaf, I learned so many new words and signs. I learned construction. I helped others in my class to measure, and I got to build chairs and tables. I learned about building houses. I want to build houses as a job. I don’t have a job, but I want to have one.

I wish I could have gone to college . . . I want to make my own choices.”

To learn more about Miguel Luna Perez and his case, read
Will the Supreme Court’s Decision Help or Harm Students?