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
Knight Institute Asks Court to Block Trump Administration From Deporting Foreign Citizens for Pro-Palestinian Advocacy
Institute’s request builds on district court’s earlier ruling recognizing that Trump administration policy violates the First Amendment
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Press Statement
Appeals Court Finds Undue Delay, Orders Prompt Ruling in Trump Classified Documents Case
Special Counsel’s report addresses allegations of grave criminal activity by the president and should be made public, Knight Institute says
Our Docket
Showing 1–10 of 88
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Lawsuit
American Association of University Professors v. Rubio
A case challenging the Trump administration’s policy of ideological deportation.
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Amicus Brief
Oregon v. Trump
A lawsuit challenging the deployment of the National Guard in Portland.
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Amicus Brief
Trump v. Illinois
A lawsuit challenging the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago.
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Lawsuit
Pilant v. Democracy for the Arab World Now
A case defending human rights advocates from abusive discovery demands
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Belmonte Cardozo
A Fourth Circuit case addressing the constitutionality of warrantless cellphone searches at the border
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FOIA Lawsuit
Knight Institute v. OMB
A FOIA lawsuit seeking records concerning agreements between the Trump Administration and major law firms.
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Lawsuit
United States v. Trump
A motion to intervene in Trump classified documents case seeking release of Special Counsel’s report.
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Amicus Brief
Khalil v. Trump
A lawsuit challenging the government’s effort to detain and deport Mahmoud Khalil.
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Amicus Brief
Newsom v. Trump
A lawsuit challenging the deployment of the national guard and marines in Los Angeles.
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Lawsuit
The Texas Tribune v. Caldwell County
A case challenging the exclusion of the press and public from bail hearings in Caldwell County, Texas.