Court rulings

Let's say a student group wants to invite Sarah Palin to campus, or Bill Ayers for that matter. Can a public university say that approval is contingent on the student group paying all extra security costs associated with such a visit?

Ruling finds that a college's dire financial condition does not justify disregard of a donor's intent.

Judge blocks attempt by state attorney general to get records on a scientist's work at U. of Virginia; further court battles are likely.

Federal appeals court finds that U. of Wisconsin at Madison improperly rejected funds for Catholic activities that involved worship.

Federal judge agrees that state law can give college newspapers the First Amendment protections that a controversial 2005 appeals court decision limited.

Federal appeals court rejects suit by student whose professor criticized his views opposing gay marriage.

In this era of brutal budget cuts and unpleasant debates about college priorities, deans at public institutions can't count on First Amendment protection if they disagree with their bosses in public.

In what appears to be the first decision of its kind, a Canadian court has ruled that universities can be considered government entities and their actions government actions, at least when it comes to their dealings with students. This is important because it means that the institutions can be held legally liable if they violate the rights of students.

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that it is not clear whether public college faculty members have First Amendment protection for criticisms they make of administrators.

The California Supreme Court unanimously upheld a state statute affording some undocumented students in-state tuition status, overturning an earlier decision by an appellate court Monday.