October Term 2021 · Docket 20-804
Does a college board's censure of a member violate free speech?
A college board censured a member for his speech. He claims this punishment violates his First Amendment rights.
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
The board's counsel argued the Fifth Circuit created a new cause of action incorrectly.
The member's counsel argued the censure was punishment for three principal reasons.
The board's counsel stated a censure resolution does not abridge freedom of speech.
The member's counsel argued the board tethered its statement to a rules violation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a public board can punish a member for his speech. The board argues censure is protected government speech. The member argues it is illegal punishment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-1
What each side wants
The board wants the Court to affirm its right to censure members.
The member wants the Court to strike down the censure as punishment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
What each side says
The board argues censure is a protected expression of government opinion.
The member argues censure is a punishment for his speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if legislative bodies have limits on expelling members.
Justice Sotomayor asked how ineligibility for travel reimbursement differs from jail.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-53
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between government speech and punishment. It determines whether public bodies can sanction members for their views. The outcome shapes free speech protections in public institutions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
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 7-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-53
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 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-21
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.