Student Speech Rights

Supreme Court Declines First Amendment Appeal Over Student Sweatshirts

The Supreme Court declined to take up a First Amendment appeal against two middle school students who were ordered to remove sweatshirts emblazoned with the words “Let’s Go Brandon” that became right-wing code for “F**k Joe Biden.” The case could have clarified the power schools have to police potentially offense speech in classrooms. The students, who are brothers and identified only by their initials, were asked to remove the sweatshakers at Tri County Middle School in 2022. The family sued the school district in 2023 alleging violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. A decision in the case is expected next year, which could further define the free speech rights of students in school.

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