A new program at Florida State University’s College of Law is bringing current constitutional issues into its curriculum through direct, practical experiences. The First Amendment Clinic, developed in partnership with the Florida Institute for Governance & Civics, recently held its first event titled “SCOTUS Preview: Free Speech on the Docket.” The event drew a large audience that included former Florida Supreme Court justices, community members, faculty, alumni, and students.
The clinic is set to launch in spring 2026 and will be the first of its kind in Florida. It aims to provide students with hands-on experience advocating for individuals and organizations whose rights related to free speech, religious liberty, association, assembly, or free press may be threatened. Students will have opportunities to learn from experienced advocates while gaining practical skills relevant to American democracy.
“By positioning the First Amendment Clinic as a hub for dialogue on fundamental freedoms, we are expanding the reach of our curriculum beyond the classroom,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “The clinic will no doubt be strengthened by our nationally recognized constitutional law program, ranked No. 16 by U.S. News & World Report.”
The recent event focused on two upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases involving government regulation of speech and association:
– In First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin, the Supreme Court will consider whether organizations can challenge state subpoenas that raise First Amendment concerns directly in federal court. This case involves a New Jersey Attorney General subpoena seeking donor records and internal documents from a pregnancy resource center.
– Chiles v. Salazar addresses whether states can ban licensed counselors from providing therapy to minors experiencing gender dysphoria if such therapy encourages aligning gender identity with biological sex. A Colorado counselor argues this ban violates her free speech and religious rights; lower courts have treated it as professional conduct regulation rather than speech restriction.
Panelists at the event included Professor Jane Bambauer (University of Florida), Erin Morrow Hawley (Alliance Defending Freedom), Michelle Kallen (Steptoe), Cameron Norris (Consovoy McCarthy), and Denise Harle (FSU First Amendment Clinic director). They discussed their litigation experiences and urged students to approach free speech topics impartially and consider multiple perspectives.
“Our goal is to train the next generation of First Amendment advocates while creating space for the community to hear directly from leading voices on these important debates,” Harle said. “We are excited to build on this momentum and continue hosting events that bring important constitutional debates to the forefront.”
More information about the clinic and an event recording are available at law.fsu.edu/firstamendmentclinic.
