First Amendment Clinic to Receive James Madison Award
Aug. 20, 2024
AUSTIN – The First Amendment Clinic at the SMU Dedman School of Law will receive the prestigious James Madison Award for its work protecting the constitutional rights of free speech and free press.
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award for outstanding commitment to the principles of the First Amendment and open government. The foundation will present the 2024 award at its state conference Sept. 13 in Austin.
SMU’s First Amendment Clinic focuses on First Amendment issues including freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly and petition.
“We are incredibly honored by the Foundation’s recognition of the Clinic through its James Madison Award. Since the fall of 2020 and with the generous support of the Stanton Foundation, our students have worked hard to advance and to protect Texans’ First Amendment rights in courts, in administrative proceedings and in the Legislature,” said clinic director Thomas S. Leatherbury.
“We all know a lot of work remains to be done,” he added. “Texas – so many First Amendment violations, so little time.”
The Dallas-based clinic assists journalists and others who need legal help to safeguard their First Amendment rights. It collaborates with private law firms in select cases and cooperates with other law school clinics across the country.
“Texans are extremely fortunate to have the SMU First Amendment Clinic fighting for our liberties of free speech and a free press. A free flow of information and the ability to speak freely are essential if we are to hold government accountable and make our state and nation a better place,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the nonprofit FOI Foundation of Texas.
The FOI Foundation of Texas has presented the James Madison Award annually since 1987 to journalists, attorneys, public officials and vigilant citizens and organizations.
In addition to honoring the SMU Dedman School of Law First Amendment Clinic, the foundation’s state conference Sept. 13 will celebrate excellence in journalism with two Spirit of FOI Awards during the conference’s John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon. Sessions throughout the day will explore current issues in government transparency and First Amendment rights and look ahead to freedom of information topics of the 2025 Texas Legislature.
The conference is open to the public. Registration, the agenda and other information can be found at .