
The First Amendment Clinic
The Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic’s dual mission is to teach students important aspects of the First Amendment and to vigorously defend its clients’ First Amendment rights. Through coursework and cutting edge First Amendment litigation and advocacy, students gain theoretical and practical skills while achieving the best possible outcomes for its clients. The Clinic houses the Local Journalism Project, an innovative initiative that provides focus to the Clinic’s work on behalf of local and community news outlets and journalists.
Recent News
Clinic Files Lawsuit in Vermont Pursuing First Amendment Speech and Religion Claims
October 15, 2025 - The Cornell First Amendment Clinic filed suit in federal court in Vermont in late August to protect the First Amendment speech and religious rights of former prison volunteer Devon Kurtz. Mr. Kurtz served as a volunteer Quaker minister at the Southern State Correctional Facility (“SSCF”) in Springfield, VT until July 2024, when Vermont Department of […]