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
What does the First Amendment actually protect?
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
When does a First Amendment issue 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
How do you challenge a government restriction on speech?
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
Does the First Amendment apply to private companies?
Generally no. The First Amendment restrains government, not private employers or platforms. Other laws may apply to a private dispute, but a First Amendment claim requires government action.
Can the government restrict speech at all?
Yes, within limits. Reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of speech can be lawful if they are neutral as to content. Restrictions aimed at the message itself face a far higher bar.
What if a public body removed me from a meeting or blocked me online?
That can raise a real First Amendment question. Public bodies and officials acting in an official capacity are constrained in how they manage public forums, including some online ones.
Does this cover religious liberty?
Yes. The First Amendment protects both the free exercise of religion and against the establishment of religion by government, and those questions arise in schools, public employment, and access to public programmes.
What should I do first?
Write down what happened and when, keep any correspondence, recordings, or policies you were given, and get advice before responding. Deadlines can be short, particularly where a public body is involved.
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 or email.
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