The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) filed an amicus curiae brief in support of a free speech case arising from Noblesville High School in Indiana and now on appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The case involves a student who sought to establish a chapter of Students for Life of America (SFLA) at her public high school. After proposing a flyer that included the phrases “I Am the Pro-Life Generation” and “Defund Planned Parenthood,” school administrators prohibited the display and ultimately revoked the club’s recognition, citing concerns over speech of a “political nature.”
The Seventh Circuit upheld the school’s actions, reasoning that members of the school community could view the poster as bearing the school’s imprimatur and that the school could therefore restrict what it characterized as political messaging.
UMLC’s amicus brief, joined by Students for Life of America, the Manhattan Institute, and the Indiana Family Institute, urges the Supreme Court to grant review and correct what amici describe as serious doctrinal errors that threaten student speech rights nationwide. UMLC argues that allowing the Seventh Circuit’s reasoning to stand would significantly narrow students’ ability to engage in speech on matters of public concern and create a chilling effect on lawful expression nationwide.
Students for Life of America is the nation’s largest pro-life youth organization, representing more than 1,500 student chapters across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Manhattan Institute and Indiana Family Institute likewise advocate for free speech protections and limits on government overreach, particularly in educational settings.
“The First Amendment does not permit school officials to silence student speech simply because it addresses controversial issues,” said Doug Seaton, President of UMLC. “Public schools are meant to prepare students for citizenship and civic engagement, not to suppress viewpoints that administrators find uncomfortable. If allowed to stand, this decision will invite increased censorship in high schools and colleges across the country.”