
Lawsuit
Knight Institute v. Trump
A lawsuit challenging President Trump's blocking of critics on Twitter
On July 11, 2017, the Knight Institute filed a lawsuit in federal court against President Trump and his aides for blocking seven people from the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account based on their criticism of his presidency and policies.
The lawsuit maintains that the @realDonaldTrump account is a “public forum” under the First Amendment, from which the government may not exclude people based simply on their views. It also claims that the White House is violating the seven individual plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to petition their government, and that by purging critics from the @realDonaldTrump account, the White House is depriving those who remain in the public forum the opportunity to hear critical voices.
Decided on July 9, 2019, and petition for rehearing denied on March 23, 2020. In a 3–0 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court's holding that President Trump's practice of blocking critics from his Twitter account violates the First Amendment. The court denied rehearing en banc by a vote of 7–2.
On July 31, 2020, the Knight Institute filed a second lawsuit in federal court against President Trump and his staff for continuing to block critics from the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account.
Status: On August 20, 2020, the government filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court.
Case Information: Knight First Amendment Inst. at Columbia Univ. v. Trump, No. 1:17-cv-5205 (S.D.N.Y.), No. 18-1691 (2d Cir.), No. 20-197 (Supreme Court).
Featured
Press Statement
Justice Department Abandons Request that Supreme Court Hear Case Relating to Trump’s Now-Defunct Twitter Account
Knight Institute says Court should leave landmark appeals court ruling in place
Press Statements
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Justice Department Abandons Request that Supreme Court Hear Case Relating to Trump’s Now-Defunct Twitter Account
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Knight Institute Comments on Permanent Suspension of President Trump’s Twitter Account
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White House Asks Supreme Court to Review Ruling that the President Violated First Amendment by Blocking Critics on Twitter
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Appeals Court Affirms that First Amendment Bars the President from Blocking Critics on Twitter
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Knight Institute Responds to Lawsuits Filed Against Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for Blocking Critics on Twitter
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Appeals Court Holds that President Trump Violated First Amendment by Blocking Critics on Twitter
Analysis
Legal Filings
Click to highlight response chains
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KEY DOCUMENTS
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Supreme Court
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2d Cir.
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Order (denying en banc petition)
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Plaintiffs' Opposition
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Government's Petition for Rehearing en banc
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Opinion (holding blocking unconstitutional)
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Plaintiffs' Rule 28(j) Letter re: Halleck
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Government's Rule 28(j) Letter re: Halleck
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Government's Rule 28(j) Response Letter re: Davison v. Randall
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Plaintiffs' Rule 28(j) Letter re: Davison v. Randall
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Government's Reply
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Plaintiffs' Response
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Government's Opening Brief
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Appendix (1 of 2)
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Appendix (2 of 2)
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Special Appendix
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S.D.N.Y.
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Additional Blocked Twitter Users
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Additional Blocked Twitter Users
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Additional Blocked Twitter Users
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Additional Blocked Twitter Users
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Additional Blocked Twitter Users
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Government's Notice of Appeal
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Opinion (holding blocking unconstitutional)
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Plaintiffs’ Response Letter
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Government's Response Letter
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Court’s Letter Requesting Clarification re: @POTUS and @WhiteHouse Accounts
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Oral Argument Transcript
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Government's Response Letter re: Wandering Dago, Inc. v. Destito
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Wandering Dago, Inc. v. Destito
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Wandering Dago, Inc. v. Destito
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Government’s Response Letter
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Plaintiffs' Letter re: Government Concession in Fourth Circuit
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Plaintiffs' Reply
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Government's Opposition/Reply
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Plaintiffs' Opposition and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment
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Notice of Filing of Stipulation Exhibits
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@realDonaldTrump Tweets and Replies
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@realDonaldTrump Profile and Header Images
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@rpbp Tweets and Replies
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@familyunequal Tweets and Replies
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@AynRandPaulRyan Tweets and Replies
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@eugenegu Tweets and Replies
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@BrandonTXNeely Tweets and Replies
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@joepabike Tweets and Replies
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@Pappiness Tweets and Replies
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Government's Motion for Summary Judgment
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Joint Stipulation
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Joint Letter Attaching Proposed Stipulation
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Stipulation
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Joint Letter re: Status of Stipulation
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Government's Response Letter
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Plaintiffs' Letter Requesting Pre-Motion Conference
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Complaint
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Plaintiffs' Letter to President Trump
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