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No. 20-804October Term 2020Decided Mar 24, 2022Updated May 24, 2026

Docket 20-804October Term 2020 (2020–2021)

Houston Community College System v. Wilson

This case asked whether a public college board violated the First Amendment when it formally censured one of its elected trustees after he repeatedly criticized the board and sued over its actions.

Case status

Decided 9-0 · March 24, 2022 · Opinion by Justice Gorsuch

Majority

Read the opinion (PDF)
Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Mar 24, 2022
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedMar 24, 2022
What it's about

This case asked whether a public college board violated the First Amendment when it formally censured one of its elected trustees after he repeatedly criticized the board and sued over its actions. The Supreme Court held that a purely verbal censure by an elected body, without more, does not create an actionable First Amendment retaliation claim.

Question presented

Does the First Amendment restrict the authority of an elected body to issue a censure resolution in response to a member's speech?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Mar 24, 2022

Area

First Amendment

Timing

Decided March 24, 2022

The Court released its decision on March 24, 2022 without hearing oral argument.

Argument and decision days

Documents

Opinions

Opinion

Key filings

Questions Presented
Petition

Briefs on file: 19View on supremecourt.gov

View full docket on supremecourt.gov

Activity

Docket activity3

  • Brief added: Questions Presented

    May 24, 2026 | Court records

  • Opinion added: opinion

    Mar 24, 2022 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Dec 11, 2020 | Court records

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Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Jul 25, 2026
Method
Methodology
Primary materials6