Public Schools, First Amendment, Social Networks

School Director’s First Amendment Rights Not Violated When Board and Superintendent Criticize his Offensive Social Media Posts

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on 3/13/2025

Detschelt v. Norwin School District 23-cv-1402 (W.D. Pa. Dec. 20, 2024). The District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania dismisses complaint filed by school director which alleged that statement issued by the...more

School District’s Discipline for Off-Campus Social Media Post Violated Student’s First Amendment Free Speech Rights

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on 10/21/2022

In re Appeal of G.S., 269 A.3d 718, 722 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022), appeal denied, 61 MAL 2022, 2022 WL 2447538 (Pa. July 6, 2022) (The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court determined that the expulsion of a student for a social media...more

The Supreme Court - June 23, 2021

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on 6/24/2021

Collins v. Yellen, No. 19-422: The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (“Recovery Act”), 12 U.S.C. §4501 et seq., was passed in response to concerns that Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s financial condition as a result of...more

The Ability of a School To Punish Lewd Or Profane Speech Disappears Once A Student Exits School Grounds

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on 6/4/2018

B.L. by Levy v. Mahanoy Area School District (“Levy”), Case No. 3:17-CV-1734, 2017 WL 4418290 (M.D. Pa. Oct. 5, 2017). District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania grants cheerleader’s Motion for Preliminary...more

How Does the Supreme Court’s Recent Facebook Decision Impact Schools?

Franczek P.C. on 6/3/2015

In a recent decision, Elonis v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court held that in order to convict a man for alleged threats made against his wife on Facebook, the prosecutor must show some level of intent. It was not enough...more

Crying Over (Virtual) Spilled Milk: ACLU Sues School District For Firing Employee Who Posted Vegan Beliefs Online

Franczek P.C. on 3/25/2015

A recent lawsuit out of Ohio brings a local flare to what has otherwise become a relatively common story. We’ve all heard of teachers being disciplined or dismissed for posting something thoughtless online that led to...more

Social Media Freedom of Expression Cases Pit the Public Against Public Officials

Best Best & Krieger LLP on 7/30/2014

In perhaps the next battleground for government and education, citizens who comment on social media sites are facing off with local government officials public and school administrators who find their online expression...more

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