Litigation
The Institute defends the freedoms of speech and of the press through strategic litigation designed to have a meaningful impact on the law, on public policy, and on public opinion. We litigate cases that have the potential to establish important new legal principles concerning the system of free expression, to influence the practices of powerful actors in that system, and to raise public awareness about contemporary structural threats to that system. We focus especially on complex and challenging cases that relate to new technology, including new communications platforms, and we favor cases that afford us the opportunity to draw on insights generated by our research program.
Our litigation prioritizes cases in our three focus areas, Free Speech & Social Media, Transparency & Democracy, and Privacy & Surveillance.
Featured
American Association of University Professors v. Rubio
A case challenging the Trump administration’s policy of ideological deportation.
LATEST NEWS & ANALYSIS
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Press Statement
USDA Reverses Course, Commits to Restore Purged Climate Webpages in Response to Farmers’ Lawsuit
The Trump administration will restore access to vital resources for climate-smart agriculture, forest conservation, climate change adaptation, and rural clean energy projects
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Press Statement
Court Sets Expedited Trial in Challenge to Deportation of Student Protesters
Trial to begin July 7, 2025
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Press Statement
Federal Court Says First Amendment Bars Government From Deporting Students and Faculty on Basis of Political Viewpoint, Says Challenge to Trump Policy Can Go Forward
Ruling is a victory for free speech and step towards ending unconstitutional policy across U.S. campuses, Knight Institute says
Our Docket
Showing 41–50 of 80
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Amicus Brief
Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh
A Supreme Court case addressing when online platforms can be held liable for aiding and abetting terrorism.
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Amicus Brief
Krasno v. Mnookin
A case challenging the suppression of speech on a public university’s social media accounts
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FOIA Lawsuit
Knight Institute v. ODNI
A FOIA lawsuit for the immediate release of the U.S. intelligence report on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Xiang
An Eighth Circuit appeal addressing the constitutionality of warrantless electronic device searches at the border
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FOIA Lawsuit
Knight Institute v. Federal Bureau of Prisons
A FOIA lawsuit seeking records concerning the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ digitization and surveillance of mail
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FOIA Lawsuit
ACLU v. CIA & Knight Institute v. DOD
Three FOIA lawsuits seeking records related to the government censorship system of "prepublication review"
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Amicus Brief
Egbert v. Boule
A Supreme Court case addressing the scope of Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics