In April 2024, UT Austin students organized a peaceful protest to support Palestinians. Per the anti-Palestinian motivations of Governor Abbot, UT Austin, and the UT Board of Regents, UT and TX DPS officers violently suppressed the protest and arrested several students (all charges were ultimately dismissed). UT then penalized the students with deferred suspension, subjecting them to greater discipline for minor infractions.
Impact
The Court allowed the students’ First Amendment retaliation claim to proceed against UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife and Interim UT President Jim Davis. This lawsuit will remind Texas government officials that the First Amendment prohibits them from retaliating against students for their protected political speech.
| Client Name: | Students at the University of Texas at Austin |
| Case Name: | Heilrayne et al. v. University of Texas et al |
| Date Filed: | April 2025 |
| Date Terminated: | Ongoing |
| Legal Department: | Civil Litigation department |
| Gender: | Female |
| Race/Ethnicity: | Muslim, Arab, and Allied |
| Location: | Austin, Texas |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Agency Involved: | UT Board of Regents; TX Department of Public Safety |
| Issues: | Free Speech, Discrimination, and Harassment |
| Verdict/Ruling: | Motion to Dismiss First Amendment Claim Denied |
