Free Speech
CAIR-Foundation, Inc and CAIR Florida, Inc. v. DeSantis et al.
The ACLU, the ACLU of Florida, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and their partners represent CAIR and CAIR-Florida in two federal lawsuits challenging Governor DeSantis’s unconstitutional and baseless designation of the nonprofits as “terrorist.” The lawsuits allege violations of CAIR and CAIR-Florida’s rights under the First Amendment and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Status: Ongoing
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Florida
Nov 2023
Free Speech
+2 Issues
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’s 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 ACLU and its partners are seeking a preliminary injunction that would bar the Chancellor and the University of Florida from deactivating the UF SJP.
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’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier and Lindke v. Freed
The ACLU, the ACLU of Northern California, and the ACLU 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’Connor-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 ACLU-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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172 Free Speech Cases
Washington, D.C.
Jan 2026
Free Speech
The New York Times Co. v. Department of Defense
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Washington, D.C.
Jan 2026
Free Speech
The New York Times Co. v. Department of Defense
Court Case
Dec 2025
Free Speech
FOIA Request for DHS Records on Practices Regarding Persons Who Record Immigration or Law Enforcement Activity and/or Publish Information
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Court Case
Dec 2025
Free Speech
FOIA Request for DHS Records on Practices Regarding Persons Who Record Immigration or Law Enforcement Activity and/or Publish Information
U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2025
Free Speech
Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
In a brief spearheaded by leading copyright scholars Rebecca Tushnet (Harvard Law), Mark Lemley (Stanford Law), and Chris Springman (NYU Law), the ACLU, the ACLU of Virginia, and the Center for Democracy and Technology filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment. In this significant copyright case, the Supreme Court will review a 4th Circuit ruling holding that an internet service provider could be liable for vast copyright damages because it took insufficient steps to disconnect IP addresses accused of downloading copyrighted material. The case is at the Supreme Court on the merits docket, with oral arguments scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2025.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2025
Free Speech
Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
In a brief spearheaded by leading copyright scholars Rebecca Tushnet (Harvard Law), Mark Lemley (Stanford Law), and Chris Springman (NYU Law), the ACLU, the ACLU of Virginia, and the Center for Democracy and Technology filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment. In this significant copyright case, the Supreme Court will review a 4th Circuit ruling holding that an internet service provider could be liable for vast copyright damages because it took insufficient steps to disconnect IP addresses accused of downloading copyrighted material. The case is at the Supreme Court on the merits docket, with oral arguments scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2025.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Nov 2025
Free Speech
Commonwealth v. Johnson
This case presents the question whether a person can be convicted of disorderly conduct for speech that the state deems “obscene” but that does not actually qualify as unprotected obscenity under the First Amendment. The outcome of this case could have serious implications for free speech and the rights of criminal defendants in Pennsylvania, where law enforcement frequently misuses the disorderly conduct statute to punish constitutionally protected speech.
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Nov 2025
Free Speech
Commonwealth v. Johnson
This case presents the question whether a person can be convicted of disorderly conduct for speech that the state deems “obscene” but that does not actually qualify as unprotected obscenity under the First Amendment. The outcome of this case could have serious implications for free speech and the rights of criminal defendants in Pennsylvania, where law enforcement frequently misuses the disorderly conduct statute to punish constitutionally protected speech.