The U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider the constitutionality of college bias response teams on Monday.
The court rejected a lawsuit from Speech First, a group advocating for students’ First Amendment rights, challenging Indiana University’s use of bias response teams. These teams, which request anonymous bias reports, may discipline students. Speech First argued that the teams suppress speech in violation of the First Amendment.
Justices Thomas and Alito dissented, emphasizing that the Court should address the issue, as many schools have bias response teams. They warned that students’ ability to challenge these policies depends on geography, creating a “patchwork” of rights. Speech First hoped the Indiana case would resolve the legal question, highlighting that universities use these teams to deter controversial speech without outright bans.
