Home Supreme Court Cases TINKER v. DES MOINES INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Supreme Court Cases 393 U.S. 503 (1969) Search all Supreme Court Cases Resources & Commentary Case OverviewOpinionsRelated CasesResources & Commentary Resources & Commentary Key lessons from landmark Tinker ruling still resonate today November 10, 2023 News Tennessee public school’s unconstitutional dress code needs some Tinkering November 18, 2022 News Federal appeals court declines to impose grade school standards on college students in First Amendment win over the University of Central Florida May 13, 2022 News FIRE brief asks Eleventh Circuit to keep K-12 speech standards off college campuses September 22, 2021 News First Amendment News 285: The rise of defamation lawsuits by and against public figures February 3, 2021 Blog What Tinker got wrong September 28, 2018 News Profile: Mary Beth Tinker on ameliorating civic education August 15, 2017 News K–12 expression and the First Amendment April 14, 2017 News Students absolved of both criminal charges and school sanctions after Ohio University protest March 31, 2017 Law review article on bullying preaches free speech but proposes limiting it March 27, 2017 News Mizzou’s Control Over Its Trademarks Does Not Extend to Control Over Student Speech June 15, 2016 News From black armbands to the Supreme Court: Mary Beth Tinker and student free speech rights May 23, 2016 News Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal of High School Student Disciplined for Rap Song February 29, 2016 News Ninth Circuit Cites ‘Professional Standards’ in Allowing University to Punish Student Speech December 30, 2015 Another Disappointing Circuit Court Ruling on Off-Campus High School Speech September 2, 2015 U. of Jamestown Students and Staff Push Freedom of the Press Legislation April 21, 2014 ‘Maine Law Review’ Study Sheds Light on Student Journalism After ‘Hazelwood’ February 26, 2014 News Mary Beth Tinker Discusses Student Rights, Modesto Junior College Incident with 'USA Today College' November 11, 2013 Help the 'Tinker Tour' Educate Students About Free Speech May 17, 2013 Remembering Chris Eckhardt, True Free Speech Hero January 4, 2013 FIRE on the Supreme Court’s Landmark Decision June 29, 2012 News A Closer Look at ‘Tatro v. University of Minnesota’ June 22, 2012 Minnesota Supreme Court issues ruling in 'Tatro' June 20, 2012 FIRE letter to Sinclair Community College, June 15, 2012 June 15, 2012 Download Eighth Circuit Applies 'Tinker' to Off-Campus Speech in Disappointing High School Ruling August 3, 2011 News Fourth Circuit Expands Schools’ Abilities to Punish Off-Campus Speech July 29, 2011 In Troubling Ruling, Minnesota Court of Appeals Upholds Punishment of Student for Facebook Posts July 12, 2011 FIRE Letter to Saint Augustine's College President Dianne Boardley Suber, May 18, 2011 May 18, 2011 Download FIRE Letter to Portland State University President Wim Wiewel, April 22, 2011 April 22, 2011 Download FIRE letter to Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue, September 1, 2010 September 1, 2010 Download FIRE Letter to Hinds CC President Clyde Muse April 27, 2010 Download FIRE letter to East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania President Robert J. Dillman March 8, 2010 Download University of Oregon Divided over Free Speech Controversy February 2, 2010 By Not Addressing High School Censorship, Supreme Court 'Substantially Interferes' with Student Speech Rights January 12, 2010 Another one bites the dust: A closer look at Lopez and the latest unconstitutional speech code to fall in court July 17, 2009 News FIRE Letter to University of Illinois President B. Joseph White September 29, 2008 Download Tarrant County College Bans Empty Holster Protest May 22, 2008 Bong Hits and Bright Lines July 5, 2007 Blog FIRE Letter to Seminole Community College President E. Ann McGee, April 18, 2005 April 17, 2005 Download
TINKER v. DES MOINES INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Supreme Court Cases 393 U.S. 503 (1969) Search all Supreme Court Cases
Key lessons from landmark Tinker ruling still resonate today November 10, 2023 News Tennessee public school’s unconstitutional dress code needs some Tinkering November 18, 2022 News Federal appeals court declines to impose grade school standards on college students in First Amendment win over the University of Central Florida May 13, 2022 News FIRE brief asks Eleventh Circuit to keep K-12 speech standards off college campuses September 22, 2021 News First Amendment News 285: The rise of defamation lawsuits by and against public figures February 3, 2021 Blog What Tinker got wrong September 28, 2018 News Profile: Mary Beth Tinker on ameliorating civic education August 15, 2017 News K–12 expression and the First Amendment April 14, 2017 News Students absolved of both criminal charges and school sanctions after Ohio University protest March 31, 2017 Law review article on bullying preaches free speech but proposes limiting it March 27, 2017 News Mizzou’s Control Over Its Trademarks Does Not Extend to Control Over Student Speech June 15, 2016 News From black armbands to the Supreme Court: Mary Beth Tinker and student free speech rights May 23, 2016 News Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal of High School Student Disciplined for Rap Song February 29, 2016 News Ninth Circuit Cites ‘Professional Standards’ in Allowing University to Punish Student Speech December 30, 2015 Another Disappointing Circuit Court Ruling on Off-Campus High School Speech September 2, 2015 U. of Jamestown Students and Staff Push Freedom of the Press Legislation April 21, 2014 ‘Maine Law Review’ Study Sheds Light on Student Journalism After ‘Hazelwood’ February 26, 2014 News Mary Beth Tinker Discusses Student Rights, Modesto Junior College Incident with 'USA Today College' November 11, 2013 Help the 'Tinker Tour' Educate Students About Free Speech May 17, 2013 Remembering Chris Eckhardt, True Free Speech Hero January 4, 2013 FIRE on the Supreme Court’s Landmark Decision June 29, 2012 News A Closer Look at ‘Tatro v. University of Minnesota’ June 22, 2012 Minnesota Supreme Court issues ruling in 'Tatro' June 20, 2012 FIRE letter to Sinclair Community College, June 15, 2012 June 15, 2012 Download Eighth Circuit Applies 'Tinker' to Off-Campus Speech in Disappointing High School Ruling August 3, 2011 News Fourth Circuit Expands Schools’ Abilities to Punish Off-Campus Speech July 29, 2011 In Troubling Ruling, Minnesota Court of Appeals Upholds Punishment of Student for Facebook Posts July 12, 2011 FIRE Letter to Saint Augustine's College President Dianne Boardley Suber, May 18, 2011 May 18, 2011 Download FIRE Letter to Portland State University President Wim Wiewel, April 22, 2011 April 22, 2011 Download FIRE letter to Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue, September 1, 2010 September 1, 2010 Download FIRE Letter to Hinds CC President Clyde Muse April 27, 2010 Download FIRE letter to East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania President Robert J. Dillman March 8, 2010 Download University of Oregon Divided over Free Speech Controversy February 2, 2010 By Not Addressing High School Censorship, Supreme Court 'Substantially Interferes' with Student Speech Rights January 12, 2010 Another one bites the dust: A closer look at Lopez and the latest unconstitutional speech code to fall in court July 17, 2009 News FIRE Letter to University of Illinois President B. Joseph White September 29, 2008 Download Tarrant County College Bans Empty Holster Protest May 22, 2008 Bong Hits and Bright Lines July 5, 2007 Blog FIRE Letter to Seminole Community College President E. Ann McGee, April 18, 2005 April 17, 2005 Download
Federal appeals court declines to impose grade school standards on college students in First Amendment win over the University of Central Florida May 13, 2022 News
FIRE brief asks Eleventh Circuit to keep K-12 speech standards off college campuses September 22, 2021 News
First Amendment News 285: The rise of defamation lawsuits by and against public figures February 3, 2021 Blog
Students absolved of both criminal charges and school sanctions after Ohio University protest March 31, 2017
Mizzou’s Control Over Its Trademarks Does Not Extend to Control Over Student Speech June 15, 2016 News
From black armbands to the Supreme Court: Mary Beth Tinker and student free speech rights May 23, 2016 News
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal of High School Student Disciplined for Rap Song February 29, 2016 News
Ninth Circuit Cites ‘Professional Standards’ in Allowing University to Punish Student Speech December 30, 2015
Mary Beth Tinker Discusses Student Rights, Modesto Junior College Incident with 'USA Today College' November 11, 2013
Eighth Circuit Applies 'Tinker' to Off-Campus Speech in Disappointing High School Ruling August 3, 2011 News
In Troubling Ruling, Minnesota Court of Appeals Upholds Punishment of Student for Facebook Posts July 12, 2011
FIRE Letter to Saint Augustine's College President Dianne Boardley Suber, May 18, 2011 May 18, 2011 Download
FIRE Letter to Portland State University President Wim Wiewel, April 22, 2011 April 22, 2011 Download
FIRE letter to Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue, September 1, 2010 September 1, 2010 Download
FIRE letter to East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania President Robert J. Dillman March 8, 2010 Download
By Not Addressing High School Censorship, Supreme Court 'Substantially Interferes' with Student Speech Rights January 12, 2010
Another one bites the dust: A closer look at Lopez and the latest unconstitutional speech code to fall in court July 17, 2009 News
FIRE Letter to Seminole Community College President E. Ann McGee, April 18, 2005 April 17, 2005 Download
