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Help When You Need It Most

Each year, FIREreviews thousands of potential cases involving individuals and groups whose rights are threatened. ��ýapp�ٷ�’s team of legal and advocacy experts have decades of experience protecting free speech both on and off college campuses. Learn more about ��ýapp�ٷ�’s civil liberties cases.

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Case Archive

192Cases

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University of Washington

University of Washington: Professor Suspended From Campus, Eventually Cleared for Bread Knife Incident

The University of Washington punished a professor and investigated incident for nearly a year before clearing him of wrongdoing.

Advocacy closed

Harvard University

President and Fellows of Harvard College v. US Department of Health and Human Services, et al.

On June 9, 2025, FIREfiled an amicus brief asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to grant Harvard’s motion for summary judgment.

Amicus Brief

American Association of University Professors, et al. v. United States Department of Justice, et al.

FIREfiled a "friend of the court" brief arguing that the Trump administration's actions against Columbia University are unlawful and unconstitutional attacks on freedom of expression, freedom of association, and academic freedom.

Amicus Brief

University of North Texas

University of North Texas: University Launches Review of Faculty Syllabi, Course Materials

As part of an overbroad attempt to comply with a state law banning administrative DEI activities, UNT violates academic freedom.

Advocacy

Harvard University

Kestenbaum v. Harvard

As the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts considers Harvard’s motion to dismiss the complaint, FIREfiled an amicus brief in support of neither party to help the Court understand the interplay between the First Amendment and discrimination law.

Amicus Brief

Mastriano v. Gregory: Politician Tries to Silence Critics of His Academic Scholarship

After historian James Gregory Jr. criticized PA state Sen. Doug Mastriano’s historical scholarship, Mastriano sued him for defamation, racketeering, and antitrust violations.

Litigation

Penguin Random House LLC v. Robbins

The First Amendment does not let Iowa use public-school libraries for political ends. The State cannot force local schools to pull classic works from their shelves.

Amicus Brief

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin: Dismissal of Teaching Assistants for Discussing Mental Health in “Women & Madness” Class

UT Austin removed two graduate students from teaching assistant roles for providing campus mental health resources and discussing the mental health impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Advocacy

James Madison University

James Madison University: Psychology Professor Investigated, Cleared for In-Class Comments

Recognizing his comments as pedagogically relevant, JMU cleared professor Gregg Henriques after a nearly year-long investigation.

FIRE Victory Advocacy closed

Palsgaard v. Christian: California Community Colleges administrators compel professors to parrot the state’s views on DEIA in the classroom

In May 2022, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors approved diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) regulations requiring all community college professors to incorporate politicized DEIA concepts in the classroom.

Litigation

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Help When You Need It Most

Case Archive

University of Washington: Professor Suspended From Campus, Eventually Cleared for Bread Knife Incident

President and Fellows of Harvard College v. US Department of Health and Human Services, et al.

American Association of University Professors, et al. v. United States Department of Justice, et al.

University of North Texas: University Launches Review of Faculty Syllabi, Course Materials

Kestenbaum v. Harvard

Mastriano v. Gregory: Politician Tries to Silence Critics of His Academic Scholarship

Penguin Random House LLC v. Robbins

University of Texas at Austin: Dismissal of Teaching Assistants for Discussing Mental Health in “Women & Madness” Class

James Madison University: Psychology Professor Investigated, Cleared for In-Class Comments

Palsgaard v. Christian: California Community Colleges administrators compel professors to parrot the state’s views on DEIA in the classroom

Featured Litigation Cases

LAWSUIT: FIREchallenges unconstitutional provisions Rubio uses in crusade to deport legal immigrants over protected speech

Press Release

Pennsylvania officers face First Amendment lawsuit for trying to criminalize profanity and using patrol car to chase man who recorded police

Press Release

FIREto defend veteran pollster J. Ann Selzer in Trump lawsuit over outlier election poll

Press Release

Featured Advocacy Cases

Fort Worth, Texas: Police seize artist Sally Mann’s photos from museum and launch investigation

case

Temple University: President Suspends Student, Announces Investigation into Anti-Semitic Sign at Philadelphia Bar

Temple University

Columbia University: DHS arrests pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil

Columbia University

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