University of Illinois Board Beats Suit Over Speech Restriction

The Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois defeated a union’s First Amendment challenge to its prohibition on comments during public meetings that relate to issues being negotiated in the university’s collective bargaining process.

The restriction is reasonable because it prevents union members who aren’t on the collective bargaining team from attempting to directly deal with the board on issues under negotiation, which is illegal under Illinois law, Judge Colleen R. Lawless of the US District Court for the Central District of Illinois said in a Tuesday opinion granting summary judgment to the board.

Three members of Service Employees ...