Court cases

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District

A Supreme Court case ruling (1969) that established the Tinker standard, affirming students' rights to free speech in schools unless it causes substantial disruption.

Tinker Standard

The legal standard established by the Tinker case stating that student speech in schools is protected unless it materially and substantially interferes with school discipline.

Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser

A Supreme Court case (1986) that allowed schools to regulate vulgar or lewd speech, establishing an exception to the Tinker standard.

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

A Supreme Court case (1988) permitting schools to censor school-sponsored speech if the censorship is reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.

Morse v. Frederick

A Supreme Court case (2007) ruling that schools can limit student speech that promotes illegal drug use, even at school-sanctioned events.

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

A Supreme Court ruling (1943) establishing that students cannot be forced to salute the flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance, protecting freedom of religious conscience.

Texas v. Johnson

A Supreme Court case (1989) affirming that burning the American flag is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

United States v. Eichman

A Supreme Court case (1990) that struck down the federal Flag Protection Act, reaffirming the constitutional protection for flag burning as expressive conduct.

Chase Harper v. Poway High School

A case where the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of a school district restricting student speech to protect other students from psychological harassment.

New York Times Co. v. United States

A Supreme Court case (1971) that established a presumption against prior restraint, affirming that the government cannot censor the press without a heavy justification.