Street Law: A Course in Practical Law

Chapter 39: Expression in Special Places

Cases and Resources

The First Amendment in Public Schools
The First Amendment in Prisons and the Military

The Public Forum
Traditional settings for the exercise of First Amendment rights include public places. There are also places known as quasi-public places. Read this description of public forums and quasi-public forums.

The Limited Public Forum
The government can restrict First Amendment rights in specific places and circumstances. Scroll through the list of places, each with an explanation, of special rules regarding expression.

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The First Amendment in Public Schools
Tinker v. Des Moines School District
Explore this case, referenced in your text as The Case of the Student Armbands, on the Landmark Cases Web site. This site explains the facts of the case and provides a summary of the Supreme Court decision. From this site, listen to the oral arguments, read the full text of the decision, or look at other resources related to the case.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Explore this case, referenced in your text as The Case of Censorship of the School Newspaper, on the Landmark Cases Web site. This site explains the facts of the case and provides a summary of the Supreme Court decision. From this site, listen to the oral arguments, read the full text of the decision, or look at other resources related to the case.

Student Press Law Center
Student journalists face many of the same issues as professional journalists. Read about the legal rights of student journalists and learn more about the current issues and cases that affect journalists' rights today.

A Directory of Students' Rights
Use this as a directory of students' rights in public schools. Schools are special places where First Amendment rights are more restricted than in traditional public forums.

First Amendment Center: Student Free Expression
Read these answers to frequently asked questions related to First Amendment rights in schools.

Morse v. Frederick
Read this case about a student in Juneau, Alaska. Why did the Supreme Court side with the principal here?

Island Trees Board of Education v. Pico
In this case, the Supreme Court considered whether a principal's actions in removing controversial books from the school library was unconstitutional. What did the Court decide? Do you agree with this decision?

Bethel School District v. Fraser
Read a summary or the full opinion in this case. Who did the Court rule for? What are they reasons it gave for this result?

Layshock v. Hermitage School District
This case is about a high school student who created a MySpace page about his principal, and was later suspended for it. A federal court in Pennsylvania held in favor of the student. If this case had been heard by the Supreme Court, what do you think the outcome would be, based on their precedent?

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The First Amendment in Prisons and the Military
Beard v. Banks
Take a closer look at the 2006 Supreme Court mentioned in your text. The Supreme Court found that denying inmates access to a newspaper does not violate the First Amendment. Read a summary of this case or the full text of the decision. From this site, you may also listen to the oral arguments or link to other resources.

Greer v. Spock
Read the 1976 Supreme Court case mentioned in your text. The Supreme Court upheld a ban of political speech on a federal military base. What reasons does the Court use to support its decision?

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