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
Coalition for Independent Technology Research v. Rubio
A challenge to an immigration policy targeting tech researchers and online safety workers
LATEST NEWS & ANALYSIS
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Press Statement
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Banning News Organizations From White House
Knight Institute applauds ruling, says First Amendment bars president from transforming press corps into a propaganda machine
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Urges Court to Strike Down Restrictions on Pentagon Journalists
Says the government cannot interfere with independent reporting
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Press Statement
Knight Institute To Support Banned News Organizations in Court
Says Trump’s actions are a “flagrant violation” of the First Amendment
Our Docket
Showing 21–30 of 103
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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.
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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.