UP FRONT Clinics in the News
JOE HOWELL
We learned a lot about local government and the process for passing a resolution. It was a very rewarding experience.
Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic wins case for TSEL The Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic, representing the nonprofit group Tennesseans for Sensible Election Laws, recently prevailed in a case that sought to declare unconstitutional a Tennessee election law that criminalized false speech in opposition to a political candidate. The clinic is directed by Assistant Clinical Professor G.S. Hans. TSEL planned to distribute a mailer criticizing state Rep. Bruce Griffey, who represents Paris, Tennessee, after Griffey introduced a bill that would have required anyone convicted of sexual offenses against minors to undergo “chemical castration” if released on parole. The mailer accused Griffey of promoting “an agenda the Nazis would love,” and urged voters to “Vote No on Bruce Griffey—He’s literally Hitler!” Because the statements in the mailer were false and were in opposition to a political candidate, TSEL’s distribution of the mailer could have led to criminal charges against the organization under state law. 4
VANDERBILT LAW
After oral arguments on TSEL’s summary judgment motion, Davidson County Chancellor Judge Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled the statute was unconstitutional, citing several arguments presented in TSEL’s brief. Jimmy Ryan ’21 successfully argued against the state’s motion to dismiss this case in May, and Hans argued the motion for summary judgment in July. Paige Tenkhoff ’20, Amber Banks ’20 and Cole Browndorf ’20 also served on the clinic legal team working on the case. Hans believes the state will appeal. “If they do, the clinic and our students will continue to work on the case in the coming academic year,” he said.
Immigration Practice Clinic students support communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 Three Immigration Practice Clinic students—Cloe Anderson ’21 (BA’18), Grace Ko ’21 and Sarah Dvorak ’22—worked pro bono with staff from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, the Asian and Pacific Islanders of Middle Tennessee, the Tennessee Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Association to assist in drafting a resolution passed by the Metro Nashville Council that addressed discrimination and harassment against Asian and Pacific Islanders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The students also produced a library resource guide with the help of Vanderbilt Law Librarian Sarah Dunaway. The guide, COVID-19 and Racism: Legislative Responses, charts legislative responses to COVID. “We learned a lot about local government and the process for passing a resolution,” said Ko. “It was a very rewarding experience.”
