Brown v. Jones County Junior College

Summary

J. Michael Brown is a member of the Young Americans for Liberty (“YAL”) organization and engaged in speech activity connected to the advertisement of the organization on Jones County Junior College’s campus. On one occasion, Brown and another student member of YAL were on campus soliciting students to join their organization. While they were engaging in this activity, a campus administrator approached Brown and his fellow student to advise them that they were in violation of JCJC’s policy, which requires that student’s gain prior approval before engaging in speech activity on campus. The students were then brought to the Chief of Campus Police, who told them that they needed to clear their speech with another campus administrator before engaging in such activities in the future. After meeting with the Chief, the students left campus. On a subsequent occasion, Brown and two others set up another speech activity related to YAL. Part of that activity involved asking students their opinions on whether they believe that recreational marijuana use should be legalized. In response to this activity, a campus administrator approached the students. The administrator called campus police, and an officer arrived and advised the students that they were violating campus policy. Brown and the others were again brought to the Chief of Campus Police, who reiterated that the students need prior approval before engaging in speech activity and told Brown that he should not make any more “trouble” for the rest of the semester. Neither of the activities that Brown and other students engaged in impeded any walkways or public thoroughfares on campus. Brown filed a lawsuit challenging these policies.