Hearing Delayed on School District’s Alcohol Policy

A court hearing on Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s zero-tolerance alcohol policy, which is being contested by the family of an Estancia High School student, was postponed until Wednesday because the judge declined to hear it.

David G. Epstein, attorney for the McCartin family, said Superior Court Judge C. Robert Jameson felt he could not give the case a fair hearing because his stepchildren attended the school Jennifer McCartin was kicked out of.

McCartin, daughter of Municipal Court Judge Michael McCartin, admitted to drinking beer before a school dance. She was transferred to Newport Harbor High School from Estancia High School for 90 school days under the school district’s alcohol policy.

But the family felt the punishment was too harsh and hired an attorney to contest it in court.

“She consumed a small amount of alcohol on private property and went to a party,” Epstein said.

“Should she have done it? No. But, should she be punished in this way? No.”

School district officials defended the policy in a written statement, saying they felt that alcohol use at the school or at school functions should be dealt with in the strictest possible manner.