McLellan Online Free Speech Library

Connor Hoffman is a third-year law student at Michigan State University from Buffalo, New York. Connor has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication (with a concentration in Journalism) from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia. After graduating from SUNY Fredonia, Connor spent three years as a general assignment reporter at the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal (US&J), the local community newspaper for Lockport, New York. While at the US&J, Connor reported on a wide variety of local news events, including the Lockport City School District’s attempt to implement one of the first facial and object recognition surveillance systems in a public school system. Connor is an Articles Editor with the Michigan State Law Review and a participant in the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute. Additionally, Connor has served as a clinician in MSU’s First Amendment Clinic. Over this summer, Connor is working as a Summer Associate with Miller Johnson in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a former journalist, Connor understands the importance of the First Amendment. Particularly, Connor enjoys exploring issues that involve the Freedom of Information Act or any of the various state versions of the law.

Emily is a third-year law student at Michigan State University College of Law. Originally from West Bloomfield, Michigan, she moved to Detroit to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Wayne State University, which she received in 2019. Emily enjoyed her time in Detroit and was involved in multiple community organizations as an advocate for those in need. In her second year at MSU College of Law, the First Amendment Clinic brought Emily a renewed passion for helping others understand their legal rights. She gained a new understanding of free speech rights and the influence it can have on students and younger individuals. The work in the First Amendment Clinic led Emily to become the Co-Curator and now the Co-Director of Content for the McLellan Online Free Speech Library. Emily is also a member of the Animal and Natural Resource Law Review and serves as the President of the Student Bar Association. Outside of school, she works to help victims of asbestos exposure at Serling and Abramson, P.C.

Nancy Costello, Co-Founder and Director of the First Amendment Law Clinic at Michigan State University College of Law, has a unique blend of expertise in journalism and First Amendment law. She was a reporter for 15 years at the Associated Press, Detroit Free Press, and the Harvard University News Office before practicing law with Dickinson Wright PLLC in Detroit. She also served as editor of her high school yearbook and a reporter on her student newspaper. She joined the faculty at MSU College of Law in 2002. As Director of the First Amendment Clinic, Professor Costello supervises The McLellan and oversees law student clinicians who conduct First Amendment Workshops at Michigan high schools and field legal questions about free speech rights from high school journalists. Professor Costello noted the importance of the Clinic’s partnership with The McLellan:

“High school is where young people learn they have free speech rights. They carry that lesson into adulthood to speak out against injustice, and to create change. The McLellan Online Library extends the First Amendment Clinic’s support to students across the country.”

Can your school really tell you how to dress?
Have questions about your right to express yourself through clothing we school? Ask us on our website!

Did your teacher lecture about something that you want to write about in the school newspaper? Let’s talk about it!
Do you have questions about what you are allowed to write about in your school newspaper? Submit all school newspaper questions on our website for answers and explanations.

From instagram to tiktok, students everywhere utilize social media and they may have questions about their rights when it comes to making posts.
Do you have a question about student speech or social media usage you want answered? Head to our website and submit a question!

A recent Supreme Court win for students’ free speech right still does not solve the problem of ill-manned, toxic speech being used today—especially on social media. Some experts say the decline in civil discourse is due to an increase in technological communication and a lack of understanding of the First Amendment. It is up to us to practice and learn how to exchange strong, diverse opinions with respect and maturity. Read more here:
https://mclellan.law.msu.edu/articles/civil-discourse-declines

the McLellan: Civil Discourse Continues to Decline Civil Discourse Continues to Decline 21.07.15 | theconversation.com | Offensive Speech In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on student free speech, civil discourse remains at risk The Supreme Court recently decided that public schools cannot punish students for using profane language on socia...

Last month the Supreme Court decided that a public school violated a student’s First Amendment right when it punished that student for using vulgar words and gestures on social media. Read more about it here:

https://mclellan.law.msu.edu/articles/mahanoy-expands-student-rights

the McLellan: Supreme Court Expands Student Speech Rights Supreme Court Expands Student Speech Rights 21.07.15 | www.nytimes.com | Student Expression Public school violated First Amendment when it punished a student for using vulgar words and gestures on social media In 2017, a public high school student (known as B.L.) didn’t make the varsity cheerleadi...

Earlier this year, a few weeks after the riots on the U.S. Capitol, Grand Traverse County Commissioners in Michigan held a public meeting online via Zoom. County resident Patricia MacIntosh criticized the Commission’s decision to make the county a gun sanctuary and asked the county to denounce the Proud Boys, a far-right organization that engages in political violence. As McIntosh spoke, County Commissioner, Ron Clous, left his screen and returned a few moments later with a rifle in his hands and flashed it in front of the screen. Macintosh is now suing the county, arguing that her First Amendment rights were violated. Although there was no risk of being shot during a Zoom meeting, MacIntosh believes the commissioner’s brandishing of a rifle was a threat and she is intimidated from speaking further to the Commission about any public concern for fear of violent backlash.

Read the full story for more information about how this situation involves the First Amendment, what MacIntosh would need to win a lawsuit, and whether Clous has any defense arguments.

https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2021-05-06/is-there-a-case-against-a-county-commissioner-who-pulled-a-gun-during-an-online-meeting

Is there a case against a county commissioner who pulled a gun during an online meeting? When Grand Traverse County Commissioner Ron Clous flashed his rifle while a resident spoke at an online public meeting, it caused an outcry in the community.Now the resident, Patricia MacIntosh is suing the county, arguing the commissioner violated her First Amendment rights.

The United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next week in a case that will impact the future of free speech rights for every single public school student in the United States.

The case, which revolves around a high school cheerleader that used profane language in a Snapchat post, will force the Supreme Court to revisit decades of First Amendment case law involving the free speech rights of students. Read more about the case here:
https://mclellan.law.msu.edu/articles/supreme-court-major-student-speech-case

the McLellan: Supreme Court will hear student speech case Supreme Court will hear student speech case 21.04.26 | www.edweek.org | Offensive Speech The United States Supreme Court is considering a case that will impact the future of free speech rights for every single public school student in the United States. In 2017, a high school cheerleader (known as B...

Fox News faces a $4 billion lawsuit for its election tampering reports, but does this chill free speech? No, says Nancy Costello, director of MSU Law's First Amendment Clinic and the McLellan. In her interview with Australia's Radio National, Costello says this brings the industry back to responsible journalism.

the McLellan: Ending Misinformation: The $4B Fox News Suit Ending Misinformation: The $4B Fox News Suit 21.04.07 | www.abc.net.au | Libel Two voting technology companies are seeking damages of more than $4 billion against Fox News for its reports of election tampering. In an interview with Radio National Australia, Nancy Costello, director of the MSU Law Fi...

We are saddened by the loss of free speech advocate and Co-founder of the MSU College of Law First Amendment Clinic, Jane Briggs-Bunting. Her zealous advocacy of free speech will live on forever.

https://mclellan.law.msu.edu/articles/first-amendment-advocate-passes-away

the McLellan: First Amendment Advocate Passes Away at 70 First Amendment Advocate Passes Away at 70 21.03.24 | www.freep.com | Student Expression The McLellan mourns the loss of free speech advocate, Jane Briggs-Bunting First Amendment advocates were saddened to learn of the death of Jane Briggs-Bunting: a free speech advocate, college professor, and resp...