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 11–20 of 88
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Amicus Brief
Harvard College v. HHS
A lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s retaliatory targeting of Harvard College
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Amicus Brief
Law Firms v. Trump Administration
Multiple cases by law firms challenging retaliatory executive orders
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Lawsuit
Knight Institute v. Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District
A public records lawsuit seeking information about a school district’s use of surveillance systems to monitor students’ digital activities.
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Amicus Brief
The Associated Press v. Budowich
A case challenging The Associated Press’ exclusion from the White House press pool.
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Terry
A case addressing the scope of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
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Lawsuit
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York v. USDA
A case challenging USDA’s purge of climate-related webpages.
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Amicus Brief
X Corp. v. Media Matters
An appeal addressing X Corp.’s effort to compel a research organization to disclose its donors.
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Smith
A Second Circuit case addressing warrantless cellphone searches at the border
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Lawsuit
The Foundation for Global Political Exchange v. Department of the Treasury
A case challenging OFAC’s suppression of the exchange of political ideas