October Term 2020 · Docket 20-255
Can schools discipline students for off-campus social media posts?
A student sent a vulgar message about cheerleading coaches on social media. The school suspended her. She claims the First Amendment protects her speech.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Cole argued that the First Amendment prohibits content discrimination.
He stated that Tinker announced a narrow exception to these principles.
Ms. Blatt argued that Tinker should apply off-campus for three reasons.
She claimed that off-campus speech can cause on-campus disruption.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether the First Amendment limits school discipline for student speech made outside school hours and on personal devices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 28, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-25
What each side wants
The school district wants the power to discipline students for off-campus speech that disrupts school life.
The student wants a clear rule that schools cannot punish her for personal social media posts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
What each side says
The school argues that off-campus speech can cause on-campus disruption and requires a school nexus.
The student argues that the First Amendment prohibits content discrimination and Tinker applies off-campus.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if schools can discipline a student for calling a classmate a baby killer.
Justice Breyer asked if Tinker allows punishment only for material and substantial disruption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Why it matters
Schools face daily challenges managing student speech on social media. Clear rules determine how schools handle off-campus posts. Students need to know when their speech is protected. Parents rely on schools to maintain safe learning environments. The balance between free expression and school order remains critical.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-53
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.