Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski

In 2016, Georgia Gwinnett College officials stopped Chike Uzuegbunam not once, but twice, from sharing his Christian faith with fellow students in public, outdoor areas on his college campus. Despite complying with the college’s demands to get advance permission to speak on one of two tiny “speech zones,” Chike was threatened with discipline for sharing his faith.

When ADF challenged these unconstitutional practices in court, the college eventually changed its speech policies and claimed that it should avoid any penalty for violating Chike’s rights. The Supreme Court, however, ruled 8-1 that citizens are entitled to at least nominal damages if the government violates their constitutional rights. The government is supposed to protect freedom, not take it away.

Case Timeline

• July 2016: Chike sought to share his Christian beliefs on Georgia Gwinnett College’s campus but was stopped by campus officials. Chike was stopped a second time in August after reserving a time in the designated “speech zone.”
• December 2016: Alliance Defending Freedom filed a complaint with the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division on behalf of Chike.
• May 2018: Based on the school’s revised speech policies and the fact that Chike had graduated, the district court dismissed Chike’s case. ADF appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
• July 2019: The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling against Chike. The following January, after the Eleventh Circuit rejected requests to rehear the case, ADF appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• January 2021: Oral arguments were held before the Supreme Court. ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner argued that “changing unconstitutional policies is an important first step. But policy changes alone do not remedy the harm done to those whose rights were violated by the government.”
• March 2021: The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that government officials can be held accountable and should not get a free pass when they violate constitutionally protected freedoms.
• March 2022: Georgia Gwinnett College officials agreed to settle the case. Georgia Gwinnett College will pay nominal damages and attorneys’ fees totaling more than $800,000.
• June 2022: The settlement was finalized and fulfilled, and the case concluded.