You are here: American University Washington College of Law Impact Initiatives Programs PIJIP Events Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property

Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property

Back to top

IP at the Supreme Court Series: O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier & Lindke v. Freed

Date: October 31, 2023 | 5:00 - 6:30pm EDT | Hybrid | Reception to follow
Registration Required

Moderated by Professor Michael Carroll

American University Washington College of Law regularly invites counsel of record and counsel for selected amici to offer post-argument reflections in intellectual property (and related) cases heard by the Supreme Court. These events are held on the afternoon of oral argument before the Court. 

O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier

panelists for oconnor ratcliff

Issue

Issue: Whether a public official engages in state action subject to the First Amendment by blocking an individual from the official’s personal social-media account, when the official uses the account to feature their job and communicate about job-related matters with the public, but does not do so pursuant to any governmental authority or duty.

Panelist

  • Daniel R. Shinoff, Artiano Shinnoff, Counsel for Petitioner Ratcliff
  • Robert Corn-Revere, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Amicus Curiae Brief of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in Support of Respondent
  • Peter K. Fagen, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, Amicus Curiae Brief of California School Boards Association in Support of Petitioner
  • Jeremy Broggi, Wiley Rein LLP, Amicus Curiae Brief of NRSC in Support of Petitioner
  • Stephanie Joyce, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), Amicus Curiae Brief of Netchoice, The Cato Institute, Chamber of Progress, and CCIA in Support of Neither Party

Lindke v. Freed 

panelists for lindke

Issue

Whether a public official’s social media activity can constitute state action only if the official used the account to perform a governmental duty or under the authority of his or her office.

Panelists

  • Dana Or, Arnold & Porter, Counsel for Petitioner Lindke
  • Victoria R. Ferres, Fletcher Fealko Shoudy & Francis, P.C., Counsel for Respondent Freed
  • Robert Corn-Revere, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Amicus Curiae Brief of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in Support of Respondent
  • Jennifer Safstrom, Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic at Vanderbilt Law School, Amicus Curiae Brief of First Amendment Clinics, Citizens, and Journalists in Support of Petitioner

All Briefs Available on SCOTUSblog:  O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier & Lindke v. Freed 

Link to Oral Argument Transcript

Link to Event Recording

UPDATE:

Decision - Lindke v. Freed:
Decision - O'Conner-Ratcliff v. Garnier

Accommodation Request
If you would like to request a disability-related accommodation or accessibility information, please contact PIJIP at pijip@wcl.american.edu.   Requests should be made two weeks before event date.