Virginia Tech • Status: Open
Blacksburg, Virginia
Speech First v. Sands, et al
April 8, 2021
Recent Activity: October 25th, 2022: Presented oral argument to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Case launch: April 8th, 2021 (United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia)
Issues being challenged:
- Discriminatory-harassment policy
- Bias-related incidents policy
- Computer policy
- Flyering policy
“Through this elaborate disciplinary apparatus, administrators at Virginia Tech have intimidated students into silence, refraining altogether from expressing comments or viewpoints that might be perceived as controversial or offensive. This effort to restrict (and even punish) speech based on content goes against the commitment to academic discourse that is supposed to be paramount in higher education.” – Nicole Neily
Case Documents
- REPLY BRIEF OF APPELLANT SPEECH FIRST April 1, 2022
- Speech First, Inc v. Sands et al; Amicus Brief by the Southeastern Legal Foundation January 18, 2022
- Speech First, Inc v. Sands et al; Amicus Brief by the Liberty Justice Center, Cato Institute, and American Council of Trustees and Alumni January 18, 2022
- Speech First, Inc v. Sands et al; Amicus Brief by the Alliance Defending Freedom January 18, 2022
- Speech First, Inc v. Sands et al; Amicus Brief by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education January 18, 2022
- SPEECH FIRST V. SANDS ET. AL BRIEF OF APPELLANT SPEECH FIRST January 10, 2022
- SPEECH FIRST V. SANDS ET. AL; PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION GRANTED September 23, 2021
- Motion for Leave to File Notice of Supplemental Authority in Virginia Tech Lawsuit July 6, 2021
- PLAINTIFF’S REPLY IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION June 14, 2021
- Virginia Tech Preliminary Injunction Filing April 12, 2021
- SPEECH FIRST V. SANDS ET. AL; COMPLAINT April 8, 2021
Media Coverage
November 11, 2022
Amid lawsuit, judge voices criticism of Virginia Tech policies that limit student speech
The College Fix
May 6, 2022
Federal free speech lawsuit against Virginia Tech continues
The College Fix
