The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of college bias response teams, despite objections from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
The case, brought by Speech First against Indiana University, argued these teams suppress student speech by inviting anonymous reports of “bias” and imposing penalties.
Speech First claimed such programs chill disfavored views without explicitly banning speech. The justices’ refusal leaves a divided legal landscape on whether students can sue in these cases. Thomas warned the issue must eventually be addressed.
The Court also recently rejected challenges to abortion clinic buffer zones in Illinois and New Jersey. Conservative justices argued these laws violate free speech rights, but the Court declined to revisit its 2000 decision upholding such zones, despite growing opposition to that precedent.v
