Constitutional Rights
First Amendment Rights
The freedoms to speak, worship, publish, and gather sit at the foundation of a free society. When a government body infringes them, we defend them.
What the First Amendment protects
Several freedoms, one core principle.
The First Amendment limits the government’s power over expression, belief, and participation. It protects the freedom of speech, the free exercise of religion, the freedom of the press, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government. We represent individuals and organizations whose First Amendment rights have been restricted by a public school, an agency, or another government body.
The areas we handle
Where First Amendment questions arise
Freedom of speech
Restrictions on protected expression, including student and educator speech on and off campus, and disputes over curriculum and school policy.
Freedom of religion
Religious liberty matters, including questions of government funding and religious institutions, conscience-based objections to legal requirements, and conflicts between religious practice and other laws.
Freedom of the press
The rights of journalists, including arrests or interference during the coverage of news and public events.
Assembly and petition
The right to gather and demonstrate peacefully, including arrests at protests, and the right to petition the government.
How we take on these cases
From a demand to a courtroom
Assess the restriction
We evaluate whether the government’s action actually crosses a constitutional line, and identify the strongest legal footing to challenge it.
Seek to stop the harm
Where a violation is ongoing, we can seek relief that stops it, including in cases brought under federal civil rights law.
Litigate the principle
When it matters, we are prepared to litigate the issue fully, because a First Amendment case is often about more than one person.
Answers
First Amendment questions we hear
Can the government ever limit my speech?
The First Amendment is broad but not unlimited, and the rules differ by setting, such as a public school or a public forum. Whether a particular restriction is lawful is a fact-specific question, and it is exactly the kind of question to bring to a lawyer.
Do students and public employees have free-speech rights?
Yes, though those rights are shaped by the school or workplace context. Cases involving student and educator speech are a recurring area of First Amendment litigation.
Whom can I bring a First Amendment claim against?
The First Amendment restrains the government, not private parties. Claims typically arise from the actions of a government body, such as a public agency, school, or official.
How long do I have to act?
These claims carry deadlines, and where a restriction is ongoing, acting quickly can matter to the relief available. It is best to speak with a lawyer early.
Talk to us about your case
If a government body silenced or restricted you, let’s talk.
If your First Amendment rights have been infringed, reach out. You can reach us by phone 24/7.
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