Defending Your First Amendment Rights

When government employers punish you for speaking out, we fight back. Protecting free speech, press, and assembly rights for public employees and citizens.

First Amendment Violations We Handle

Public employees, journalists, students, and protesters all have constitutional protections — and we help enforce them.

Public Employee & Academic Retaliation
Termination for whistleblowing
Punishment for political speech
Social media post retaliation
Speaking at public meetings
Professor speech restrictions & curriculum censorship
Tenure denial for viewpoints
Assembly & Press Freedom
Protest and demonstration rights
Permit denials and restrictions
Excessive force at protests
Unlawful arrest at demonstrations
Journalist retaliation & source protection
Government intimidation of press

Your Constitutional Protections

1

Pickering Balancing

Public employees can speak on matters of public concern without retaliation under the Pickering test.

2

California Protections

State law bars political affiliation discrimination and provides broad whistleblower protections.

3

Fee-Shifting Statutes

Section 1983 and Bane Act cases require the government to pay your attorney fees when you win.

What You Can Recover

Winning a First Amendment case can restore your job, compensate lost wages, and force the government to pay your attorney fees.

  • Reinstatement to your position
  • Back pay and front pay for lost wages
  • Compensatory damages for emotional distress
  • Punitive damages against individual officials
  • Attorney fees paid by the government

Related Resources

Protect Your Free Speech Rights

If you've been punished for exercising your First Amendment rights, we can help. Free consultation.

Or call us directly:

(650) 781-8000