SCOTUS Turns Away College Bias Response Team Challenge; Thomas, Alito Dissent

The U.S. Supreme Court chose not to review the constitutionality of college bias response teams on Monday. The court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Speech First, an organization that advocates for the First Amendment rights of students, which contested Indiana University’s implementation of bias response teams. These teams, which solicit anonymous reports of bias, have the authority to impose disciplinary actions on students. Speech First contended that these teams infringe upon free speech rights as protected by the First Amendment. Justices Thomas and Alito expressed dissent, arguing that the Court should take up the matter, given the prevalence of bias response teams across numerous educational institutions. They cautioned that students’ ability to contest these policies varies by location, resulting in a fragmented landscape of rights. Speech First aimed for the Indiana case to clarify the legal issues, pointing out that universities utilize these teams to discourage controversial speech without imposing outright prohibitions.