Ep. 134 A cheerleader’s free speech case lands at the Supreme Court

Ninth grader Brandi Levy was frustrated when she didn’t make her high school’s varsity cheerleading team so she posted an intemperate video about it on Snapchat to her 250 “friends.”

Four years later, that video, which led to her suspension from the junior varsity cheer team, will take center stage at the United States Supreme Court. 

Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. is a case that University of Florida Professor Frank LoMonte says will determine “the future of student free speech.”

On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by LoMonte, who also leads the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, and FIRE Program Officer Lindsie Rank to discuss the Mahanoy case, which could answer some important lingering questions about student speech rights off-campus and on social media.

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case on Wednesday, April 28. A decision is expected this summer.

Show notes:

• Transcript
• “The future of student free speech comes down to a foul-mouthed Cheerleader,” by Frank LoMonte
• FIRE, NCAC, and CBLDF file brief in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., cheerleader Snapchat case before Supreme Court

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