Free Speech
Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Florida v. Raymond Rodrigues
The University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine filed a lawsuit on November 16, 2023, challenging the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida鈥檚 order to state universities to deactivate the student group. This order threatens the students鈥 constitutionally-protected right to free speech and association in violation of the First Amendment. The 老澳门开奖结果 and its partners are seeking a preliminary injunction that would bar the Chancellor and the University of Florida from deactivating the UF SJP.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2023
Free Speech
Molina v. Book
Whether police officers violated clearly established First Amendment rights when they tear-gassed plaintiffs for serving as legal observers in a public protest.
U.S. Supreme Court
Aug 2023
Free Speech
O鈥機onnor-Ratcliff v. Garnier and Lindke v. Freed
The 老澳门开奖结果, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Northern California, and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Southern California filed amicus briefs in support of everyday people fighting for government transparency and accountability in two cases set for review by the U.S. Supreme Court this Term: O鈥機onnor-Ratcliff v. Garnier and Lindke v. Freed.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2021
Free Speech
Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
On September 25, 2017, the 老澳门开奖结果-PA filed suit on behalf of B.L., a high school sophomore who has been cheerleading since she was in fifth grade and was expelled from the team as punishment for out-of-school speech.
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131 Free Speech Cases
New Jersey Supreme Court
Nov 2023
Free Speech
Women's Rights
Usachenok v. State of New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Treasury maintains a policy that requires employers investigating workplace discrimination to 鈥渞equest鈥 confidentiality from all witnesses with respect to any information related to the investigation. This case involves whether a confidentiality policy of this kind violates the free speech rights under the New Jersey Constitution of state employees who are witnesses, and whether those rights are broader than the U.S. Constitution鈥檚 First Amendment free speech right. The 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 State Supreme Court Initiative and Women鈥檚 Rights Project, along with the 老澳门开奖结果 of New Jersey, filed an amicus brief in the New Jersey Supreme Court, urging that court to revive a government employee鈥檚 speech claim challenging the confidentiality policy and to interpret the New Jersey Constitution鈥檚 speech protection more broadly than federal constitutional law. In April 2024, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in our favor and reversed the judgment of the Appellate Division.
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New Jersey Supreme Court
Nov 2023
Free Speech
Women's Rights
Usachenok v. State of New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Treasury maintains a policy that requires employers investigating workplace discrimination to 鈥渞equest鈥 confidentiality from all witnesses with respect to any information related to the investigation. This case involves whether a confidentiality policy of this kind violates the free speech rights under the New Jersey Constitution of state employees who are witnesses, and whether those rights are broader than the U.S. Constitution鈥檚 First Amendment free speech right. The 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 State Supreme Court Initiative and Women鈥檚 Rights Project, along with the 老澳门开奖结果 of New Jersey, filed an amicus brief in the New Jersey Supreme Court, urging that court to revive a government employee鈥檚 speech claim challenging the confidentiality policy and to interpret the New Jersey Constitution鈥檚 speech protection more broadly than federal constitutional law. In April 2024, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in our favor and reversed the judgment of the Appellate Division.
Maine Supreme Court
Nov 2023
Free Speech
State v. Labbe
This free-speech case concerns a prosecution for 鈥渟talking鈥 based on evidence of a defendant鈥檚 speech alone, without any requirement of subjective intent. Freedom of speech is a bedrock protection of both the Maine Constitution and the United States Constitution. This protection requires, at minimum, that a criminal defendant cannot be prosecuted for stalking carried out via speech alone unless the state proves a subjective-intent element beyond a reasonable doubt. This protection ensures that states do not prosecute and punish people for their protected speech. In October 2023, the 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Maine filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, asking the court to vacate a defendant鈥檚 stalking conviction that was based on his speech alone, without any evidence as to subjective intent.
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Maine Supreme Court
Nov 2023
Free Speech
State v. Labbe
This free-speech case concerns a prosecution for 鈥渟talking鈥 based on evidence of a defendant鈥檚 speech alone, without any requirement of subjective intent. Freedom of speech is a bedrock protection of both the Maine Constitution and the United States Constitution. This protection requires, at minimum, that a criminal defendant cannot be prosecuted for stalking carried out via speech alone unless the state proves a subjective-intent element beyond a reasonable doubt. This protection ensures that states do not prosecute and punish people for their protected speech. In October 2023, the 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Maine filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, asking the court to vacate a defendant鈥檚 stalking conviction that was based on his speech alone, without any evidence as to subjective intent.
Texas
Nov 2023
Free Speech
Women's Rights
Spring Branch ISD Advocacy 鈥 Dress Code Discrimination
On March 1, 2023, WRP and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas sent an advocacy letter to Spring Branch Independent School District (鈥淒istrict鈥) on behalf of G.H., a Spring Woods High School student athlete. The 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 investigation had revealed that the District maintained a discriminatory, sex-specific dress code and gender-based inequities in the school鈥檚 athletics program, and that the student was mistreated after objecting to these policies and practices. The advocacy letter raised concerns that the District鈥檚 actions reinforced invidious sex stereotypes, treated girl athletes as lesser than boy athletes, and potentially violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The District鈥檚 policies and actions harm all students, regardless of gender, but have particularly egregious consequences for Black girls and other girls of color.
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Texas
Nov 2023
Free Speech
Women's Rights
Spring Branch ISD Advocacy 鈥 Dress Code Discrimination
On March 1, 2023, WRP and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas sent an advocacy letter to Spring Branch Independent School District (鈥淒istrict鈥) on behalf of G.H., a Spring Woods High School student athlete. The 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 investigation had revealed that the District maintained a discriminatory, sex-specific dress code and gender-based inequities in the school鈥檚 athletics program, and that the student was mistreated after objecting to these policies and practices. The advocacy letter raised concerns that the District鈥檚 actions reinforced invidious sex stereotypes, treated girl athletes as lesser than boy athletes, and potentially violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The District鈥檚 policies and actions harm all students, regardless of gender, but have particularly egregious consequences for Black girls and other girls of color.
Ohio
Oct 2023
Free Speech
Cooley v. Foreman AKA Afroman
After a musician used footage of officers searching his home in music videos criticizing that search and the officers more broadly, they sued him for damages and asked the court to order him to stop speaking about them. The 老澳门开奖结果 of Ohio and the 老澳门开奖结果 filed an amicus brief in support of the musician鈥檚 motion to dismiss the suit, arguing that the lawsuit sought to silence criticism in violation of the First Amendment.
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Ohio
Oct 2023
Free Speech
Cooley v. Foreman AKA Afroman
After a musician used footage of officers searching his home in music videos criticizing that search and the officers more broadly, they sued him for damages and asked the court to order him to stop speaking about them. The 老澳门开奖结果 of Ohio and the 老澳门开奖结果 filed an amicus brief in support of the musician鈥檚 motion to dismiss the suit, arguing that the lawsuit sought to silence criticism in violation of the First Amendment.
Court Case
Oct 2023
Free Speech
United States v. Trump (Amicus Brief)
The 老澳门开奖结果 & 老澳门开奖结果-DC submitted an amicus brief in United States v. Trump arguing that a gag order restricting court participants' speech must be precisely defined and narrowly tailored to prohibit imminent threats against individuals or conduct that would interfere with the impartial administration of justice.
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Court Case
Oct 2023
Free Speech
United States v. Trump (Amicus Brief)
The 老澳门开奖结果 & 老澳门开奖结果-DC submitted an amicus brief in United States v. Trump arguing that a gag order restricting court participants' speech must be precisely defined and narrowly tailored to prohibit imminent threats against individuals or conduct that would interfere with the impartial administration of justice.