First Amendment

Free speech is a fundamental right protected by both the U.S. Constitution and Nevada law. If you are a student at a college or university in Nevada, it is important to understand the scope of your rights and the limitations that may apply to free expression on campus. The First Amendment and Nevada law protect the right to express opinions, even if those views are controversial or offensive to others.

Public school students do not lose their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate. The First Amendment protects the right to express opinions, wear expressive clothing, and participate in peaceful protest or assembly, even on controversial topics. The Nevada Constitution mirrors these protections and also protects race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry, and national origin. However, schools may place reasonable restrictions on speech to maintain order, protect the rights of others, and ensure that education is not disrupted.

Nevadans can report violations of their rights during tomorrow’s protests by calling 702-659-7535

A number of Nevadans have been dismissed or reprimanded for social media posts about Kirk’s death, raising questions about whether being terminated or suspended for posting on private social media is a violation of individual rights.

In NYT v. Second Judicial District Court, multiple national media organizations, including The New York Times, CNN, NPR, and others, challenged a Nevada district court’s decision to seal nearly all hearings and filings in a high-profile case related to Rupert Murdoch’s trust. The district court’s ruling directly contradicts the Nevada Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment right to access civil proceedings found in Falconi v. Eighth Judicial District Court. The ACLU of Nevada, in partnership with Holland and Hart, filed an amicus brief urging the Nevada Supreme Court to reverse the lower court’s decision and affirm the public’s constitutional right to access court proceedings.

In May 2024, Laura Griffin, a Muslim woman, was forcibly removed from her home by LVMPD during an eviction. While being arrested, Ms. Griffin explained she is Muslim and repeatedly asked for and was denied her religious head covering. During the course of her arrest, transport, and booking, Ms. Griffin requested her head covering over three dozen times. Officers not only ignored her requests but also actively denied her access to her head covering, even when it was brought to the police station by her son. The ACLU of Nevada filed a lawsuit against LVMPD for violating Ms. Griffin’s rights under the U.S. Constitution. In addition to providing damages for the harm caused to Ms. Griffin, the LVMPD adopted policies and provided training to ensure that people who are arrested are afforded religious accommodations and that such mistreatment does not happen again.  

We’re suing the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for violating Nevada’s public records laws by refusing to release records related to their communications with ICE.

As Southern Nevada high school seniors headed toward graduation, many of the students were at risk of having their First Amendment rights violated under a Clark County School District policy adopted in March that added new restrictions on cap and gown decorations and banned objects and adornments that “constitute proselytizing speech.” Our civil rights attorneys say that the policy has led to individual schools creating their own guidelines, which even contradict themselves. The complaint says, for example, that Canyon Springs High School and Del Sol Academy have communicated both that all cap decorations will be banned and that students can adorn their caps with decorations that have religious or cultural significance. Las Vegas High School is going even further and requiring students to submit pictures of decorations and accessories for advanced approval.