Justices Thomas and Alito dissent from the majority.
This week, the Supreme Court refused another lawsuit filed by Speech First, a group that fights for First Amendment rights for students on college campuses, against college bias response teams at Indiana University.
College bias response teams accept anonymous reports from students who believe they experienced bias or discrimination within the classroom or on-campus life. The teams are usually staffed by people knowledgeable about various forms of bias, and they review these comments to determine whether the reports are valid or demand a formal response.
Speech First alleged that Indiana University’s bias response team has a “chilling effect” on the free speech of students. The group stated, “Instead of outright banning biased speech, these teams deter it by threatening students with adverse consequences. They also burden it by imposing a series of administrative and other costs on students who commit ‘bias incidents.’”
Attorneys for the school urged the Supreme Court to reject this lawsuit, arguing that bias teams do not violate the First Amendment, since they do not prevent the exercising of free speech and only review reported comments after they have been made. The majority of the Supreme Court agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissenting from the decision.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the justices of the Supreme Court as they consider which appeals they will accept on the docket.
- For wisdom for the Supreme Court justices as they determine the constitutional cases they will hear.
Sources: The Hill, AP News
