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 Floridas order to state universities to deactivate the student group. This order threatens the students constitutionally-protected right to free speech and association in violation of the First Amendment. The 勛圖眻畦 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
OConnor-Ratcliff v. Garnier and Lindke v. Freed
The 勛圖眻畦, the 勛圖眻畦 of Northern California, and the 勛圖眻畦 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: OConnor-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 勛圖眻畦-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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146 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 request 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. Constitutions First Amendment free speech right. The 勛圖眻畦s State Supreme Court Initiative and Womens Rights Project, along with the 勛圖眻畦 of New Jersey, filed an amicus brief in the New Jersey Supreme Court, urging that court to revive a government employees speech claim challenging the confidentiality policy and to interpret the New Jersey Constitutions 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 request 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. Constitutions First Amendment free speech right. The 勛圖眻畦s State Supreme Court Initiative and Womens Rights Project, along with the 勛圖眻畦 of New Jersey, filed an amicus brief in the New Jersey Supreme Court, urging that court to revive a government employees speech claim challenging the confidentiality policy and to interpret the New Jersey Constitutions 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 stalking based on evidence of a defendants 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 勛圖眻畦 and the 勛圖眻畦 of Maine filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, asking the court to vacate a defendants 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 stalking based on evidence of a defendants 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 勛圖眻畦 and the 勛圖眻畦 of Maine filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, asking the court to vacate a defendants 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 Dress Code Discrimination
On March 1, 2023, WRP and the 勛圖眻畦 of Texas sent an advocacy letter to Spring Branch Independent School District (District) on behalf of G.H., a Spring Woods High School student athlete. The 勛圖眻畦s investigation had revealed that the District maintained a discriminatory, sex-specific dress code and gender-based inequities in the schools athletics program, and that the student was mistreated after objecting to these policies and practices. The advocacy letter raised concerns that the Districts 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 Districts 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 Dress Code Discrimination
On March 1, 2023, WRP and the 勛圖眻畦 of Texas sent an advocacy letter to Spring Branch Independent School District (District) on behalf of G.H., a Spring Woods High School student athlete. The 勛圖眻畦s investigation had revealed that the District maintained a discriminatory, sex-specific dress code and gender-based inequities in the schools athletics program, and that the student was mistreated after objecting to these policies and practices. The advocacy letter raised concerns that the Districts 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 Districts 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 勛圖眻畦 of Ohio and the 勛圖眻畦 filed an amicus brief in support of the musicians 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 勛圖眻畦 of Ohio and the 勛圖眻畦 filed an amicus brief in support of the musicians 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 勛圖眻畦 & 勛圖眻畦-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 勛圖眻畦 & 勛圖眻畦-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.