Press Rights: Key Cases
Cases that enhance student rights
Tinker v. Des Moines
This 1969 decision stated students do not lose their rights at the schoolhouse gate
- oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1968/1968_21
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=393&invol=503
Dean v. Utica
This Michigan case substantively supported the Tinker decision where student media has either been practicing as a public forum or is designated as one. Is precise in stating Hazelwood does not cover all student expression in high schools
Lexington v. Yeo
This First Circuit case demonstrated the importance of practicing forum status and of student decision making.
Draudt v Wooster City School District
This sixth circuit decision set forth a legal test for distinguishing between nonpublic and public forum scholastic media. The court held that nonpublic forum media are subject to the Hazelwood standard. Publications classified as public forums are protected by the much higher Tinker-based standard.
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No.
26 v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853
This decision ruled that the First Amendment limits a school board’s ability to remove or ban books in school libraries.
- oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1981/1981_80_2043
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=457&invol=853
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
This Supreme Court decision protected a student from being forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school.
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=319&invol=624
- supreme.justia.com/us/319/624/case.html
Cases that inhibit or are cited to limit student rights
Bethel School District v. Fraser
This decision gave school officials the ability to limit student speech of a lesser standards than substantial and material disruption.
- oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1985/1985_84_1667
- abanet.org/publiced/youth/sia/holtcases/bethel.html
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=478&invol=675
- freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=13701
- firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=35
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
This US Supreme Court decision gave schools the ability to limit student expression if student media are not public forums for student expression by policy or practice and if school officials have a legitimate pedagogical reason.
- oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1987/1987_86_836/
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=484&invol=260
- splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=4
- ericdigests.org/pre-9216/hazelwood.htm
- firstamendmentcenter.org/faclibrary/case.aspx?case=Hazelwood_v_Kuhlmeier
Frederick v. Morse
Commonly known as Bong Hits 4 Jesus, this decision created further limits on Tinker’s support of student expression.
- oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2006/2006_06_278/
- youtube.com/watch?v=n_LsGoDWC0o
- fora.tv/2008/05/07/Bong_Hits_4_Jesus_Whats_Left_of_Student_Free_Speech#Frank_LoMonte_on_Effects_of_Morse_v_Frederick_Decision
- supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/06-278.pdf
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=06-278
- shmoop.com/free-speech/bethel-v-fraser-morse-v-frederick.html
Cases affecting advisers
Garcetti v. Ceballos
This decision limits the speech rights of pubic employees in many situations when they speak as school employees.
- supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-473.pdf
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=04-473
- oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_04_473
- firstamendmentcenter.org/faclibrary/case.aspx?case=Garcetti_v_Ceballos
Pickering v. Board of Education
This decision supported a teacher’s claim that a letter written critical of the school was protected by the First Amendment
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=391&invol=563
- supreme.justia.com/us/391/563/
- oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1967/1967_510
Mixed decisions
Nuxoll v. Indian Prairie School District
This decision is about a T—shirt with an anti-gay message. It is a split case with strong language by the ruling viewpoint dismissing the credibility of student speech in any form.
- feministlawprofs.law.sc.edu/?p=3430
- americansfortruth.com/news/appeals-court-says-il-school-cannot-ban-be-happy-not-gay-t-shirts.html
- firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=19965
- splc.org/pdf/Neuqua7thCircuit.pdf
- splc.org/newsflash_archives.asp?id=1748&year=2008
General decisions/lesson plans
Times v Sullivan
This Supreme Court decision established the concept of actual malice with libel.
- caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=376&invol=254
- supreme.justia.com/us/376/254/case.html
- firstamendmentcenter.org/faclibrary/case.aspx?case=New_York_Times_Co_v_Sullivan
First Amendment timeline
firstamendment.jideas.org/first/timeline.php
Education for Freedom lesson plans
freedomforum.org/packages/first/curricula/educationforfreedom/index.htm