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Patterson v. Colorado
This case was the first case regarding freedom of press. The U.S. Supreme Court determines it does not have jurisdiction to review the “contempt” conviction. The Court holds that the free-speech and press guarantees only guard against prior restraint; it does not prevent “subsequent punishment.” -
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire
The courts officially decide that the First Amendment will not protect "fighting words". These words threaten or intimidate others and will not be protected when citizens use harmful language towards other persons. These words may cause injury or cause an immediate breach of the peace. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Iowa public school officials violated the First Amendment rights of students by suspending them for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. Court decided that students can't be punished unless they are disrupting the school process. The Court also established that students don't shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. -
Bethel v. Fraser
Matthew Fraser was suspended from school for two days after he made a "lewd" speech at school. The courts held that the manner of speech was disruptive to the school environment and he lost the case. -
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that school officials can exercise editorial control over things published in school. Specifically, in the Hazelwood School District, the school newspaper was regulated of what was allowed to be written. -
O'Brien v. Westlake City Schools Board of Education
A high school student created a website titled "raymondsucks.org" which criticized his band teacher. The school in turn suspended O'Brien for 10 days and he failed band. After going to court, O'Brien won the case because the Court agreed that the school has no right to regulate what O'Brien says off school grounds. The school then needed to write an apology and pay $30,000. -
Beussink v. Woodland R-IV School District
A high school student created a website from his home that talked poorly of school officials. When another student showed the administration the website, the student was suspended from school for 10 days. After going to court, the judge decided that the school can't punish the student unless the website creates a substantial disruption at school. -
Emmett v. Kent School District
In this case, a high school student was suspended after creating a website on his own free time with "mock obituaries". It was viewed as threatening so the school decided to take action. However, when Emmett took the case to court, the court decided the school violated Emmett's First Amendment and the school took back the suspension and paid him $1 along with lawyer fees. -
Beidler v. North Thurston School District
Beidler created a website from his own computer at his own house. The website was a parody of his principal. He was suspended from school for the rest of the school year. After going to court, the courts ruled in the plaintiff's favor. Beidler received $10,000 and $52,000 in attorney fees. The courts stated that schools can't punish students for free speech outside of school. -
J.S. v. Bethleham Area School District
A middle school student created a website in which he spoke poorly of a teacher and his principle, considered as slander. The website contained derogatory terms and a picture of an algebra teacher with blood dripping off her head. The school suspended and then expelled the student for the website. After going to court, the court did not vote in the plaintiff's favor because the website was considered a substantial disruption of school activities. -
Virginia v. Black
The court ruled that the banning of cross-burning is unconstitutional because it's the right to free speech. However states could ban cross burning with intent to intimidate, but the cross burning act alone was not enough evidence to punish someone based on the prediction that intimidation is their true intent. -
Morse v. Frederick
U.S. Supreme Court rules that the principal, Morse, didn't violate the First Amendment of a high school student. Morse punished Frederick when he created a banner stating, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" and displayed the banner across the street of the school. The court stated that there was a drug exception to the landmark decision of Tinker v. Des Moines.
