Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property

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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.

PANELISTS

  • 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.