Episode 52

Oral Argument: Houston Community College Sys. v. Wilson | Case No. 20-804 | Date Argued: 11/2/2021 | Date Decided: 3/24/2022

Houston Community College Sys. v. Wilson | Case No. 20-804 | Date Argued: 11/2/2021 | Date Decided: 3/24/2022

Question Presented: Does the First Amendment restrict the authority of an elected body to issue a censure resolution in response to a member's speech?

Holding: Mr. Wilson does not possess an actionable First Amendment claim arising from the Board’s purely verbal censure.

Result: Judgment REVERSED.

Voting Breakdown: 9-0. Justice Gorsuch delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.

Link to Opinion: Here.

Oral Advocates:

For Petitioner: Richard A. Morris, Houston, Tex.; and Sopan Joshi, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For Respondent: MIchael B. Kimberly, Washington, D.C.

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