Opinion ID: 24815
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Viewpoint Discrimination at Math Nights

Text: 64 The district court determined that from the summary judgment evidence adduced, inferences could be drawn that Defendants Davis, Wohlgehagen, Burleson, Criswell, and Sellers acted because of content-based 14 discrimination, and thus, for the purposes of evaluating qualified immunity, a constitutional violation had been alleged. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Kirke and Johnson, we conclude that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether these Defendants engaged in the alleged viewpoint discrimination; thus, we are deprived of jurisdiction on this interlocutory appeal. 65 First, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Kirke was, in fact, prohibited from distributing information to the parents in attendance at both Haggard Math Night and Wilson Math Night. Kirke claims he was repeatedly instructed to cease distributing information to the parents at Haggard Math Night. 15 He asserts that Wohlgehagen even asked him to leave the meeting. Defendants assert that because Kirke had the opportunity to pass out his materials before and after the meeting, and because he was able to do so, there was no infringement on free expression. In their affidavits, Defendants do not address whether Kirke's allegations regarding their actions at Math Night are accurate. Kirke also claims that at the Wilson Math Night he was instructed from the outset that he was not to distribute any information to parents. Defendants again argue that Kirke was able to distribute this information before or after that meeting. 66 Second, if Kirke's materials were, in fact, prohibited, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Kirke's materials were prohibited because of the views expressed or because of another permissible reason. Kirke asserts that when he arrived at Haggard Math Night, he placed his Connected Math materials next to the PISD's Connected Math materials. Initially, there was no concern over his distribution of information concerning Connected Math. Eventually, Wohlgehagen reviewed the materials that Kirke placed on the table. According to Wohlgehagen's affidavit, he states, I reviewed Mr. Kirke's materials and informed him that his materials did not relate to the new math curriculum at Haggard M[iddle] S[chool]. Wohlgehagen then asked Kirke to move his materials critical of Connected Math so that they would not be confused with the information provided by the PISD. 67 Kirke removed his materials from the table but continued speaking with parents. Kirke asserts in his affidavit that it was because he was successfully meeting with parents and distributing his information critical of Connected Math that Defendants Wohlgehagen, Burleson, and Davis told him to cease distributing the information. Kirke alleges that the motivation for this request to stop disseminating information and the order to actually leave the meeting was likely because Wohlgehagen and Burleson were concerned with the critical views being expressed to the other parents. Kirke points out that the school officials had not initially banned his materials, but only did so after reviewing them. 16 Defendants assert, however, that the reason for their actions was that Kirke had not requested prior permission from school officials to distribute materials. 17 This question regarding Defendants' motivation creates a genuine issue of material fact that cannot be decided on this appeal. 68 Third, an issue of fact exists regarding whether Davis and Sellers, in fact, ordered Kirke to put away his sign at the Wilson Math Night, and whether they did so because of the viewpoint expressed. Kirke alleges in his affidavit that Davis and Sellers told him that he would not be allowed to hold his sign or to attempt to communicate the information contained on his sign by placing the sign anywhere on the school premises. Kirke alleges that Davis and Sellers instructed him to remove the sign or turn it over so that other parents would not be able to read the message contained on the sign critical of Connected Math. Davis and Sellers respond that his poster was available for the parents to see at the meeting. Again, whether Defendants acted in the manner Kirke alleges and whether Defendants acted because of the method of expression or the views expressed are genuine issues of material fact that we cannot decide on this appeal. 18 69 Fourth, a general issue of material fact exists as to whether Johnson was prohibited from distributing information at the Hendrick Math Night. Johnson had brought materials evaluating the Connected Math program and textbook. He asserts that Criswell told him to stop providing materials to the parents at the meeting. Johnson asserts that no literature in opposition to Connected Math was allowed to be displayed. Defendants argue that Johnson was still allowed to distribute his non-school materials 'some 10-15 minutes' before the start of the math night program. . . . He also had the ability to distribute his materials and talk to other parents and teachers after the program concluded. As with Kirke, we are not permitted to resolve this genuine factual discrepancy regarding a material fact on appeal. 70 Fifth, if Johnson's materials were prohibited, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Johnson's materials were prohibited because of the views expressed or because of another permissible reason. In support of viewpoint discrimination, Johnson points to Criswell's hostile response to his attempt to communicate with other parents about his concerns with Connected Math. At the Hendrick Middle School meeting, Criswell allegedly sprinted toward Johnson and shouted at him to stop distributing the materials he had brought to the meeting. Johnson alleges that Criswell was speaking to him four inches away from his face. Criswell stated that Johnson could not hand out materials unless he had reviewed them and approved them. Johnson states that when he offered Criswell the opportunity to review the Texas Education Agency report on the Connected Math textbook, Criswell forcefully declined to review it. According to Johnson's affidavit, Criswell informed Johnson that he could not distribute literature concerning the subject matter of the parents' meeting and that he should leave the building. Criswell denies raising his voice and denies asking Johnson to leave the school property. Again, questions of fact, motivation, and policy create genuine issues of material fact. 71 Sixth, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether the email memorandum was, in fact, authored by Davis 19 and whether the email supports Kirke and Johnson's argument that school officials were targeting the views of parents like Kirke and Johnson. The memorandum specifically references individuals attempting to circulate a petition or pass out material related to the Connected Math Program. The memorandum was allegedly created the day after the Haggard Middle School meeting and the incident involving Kirke. Davis denies authoring the email memorandum. 72 Finally, there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether Defendants Davis, Wohlgehagen, Burleson, Criswell, and Sellers restricted the distribution of information critical of Connected Math because, as they allege, they were following a content-neutral policy of disallowing all literature not pre-screened by school authorities. This justification could present a legitimate content-based (but not viewpoint-based) distinction capable of surviving First Amendment scrutiny. However, from a review of the summary judgment record, it appears that the policies on which these Defendants rely were not enacted until 1999, several months after the incidents at Math Nights. The excerpts of the school policies in the summary judgment record indicate that the policies existing at the time did not govern handouts disseminated by non-students to non-students. 20 This creates a significant and material fact question posed by the Defendants as to whether the Defendants were acting under a valid school policy at the time of the Math Nights. 73 Therefore, for the limited purpose of evaluating a denial of summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds, we conclude that genuine issues of material fact exist supporting the allegation that Defendants Davis, Wohlgehagen, Burleson, Criswell, and Sellers violated Kirke's and Johnson's First Amendment rights. See, e.g., Burnham v. Ianni, 119 F.3d 668, 676 (8th Cir. 1997); Searcey v. Harris, 888 F.2d 1314, 1324 (11th Cir. 1989); We the People, Inc. v. Nuclear Regulatory Comm'n, 746 F. Supp. 213, 219 (D.D.C. 1990). These questions deprive us of jurisdiction, and we must dismiss these Defendants' appeal. See, e.g., Palmer v. Johnson, 193 F.3d 346, 353 (5th Cir. 1999); Smith v. Brenoettsy, 158 F.3d 908, 912 (5th Cir. 1998); Naylor v. State of La., Dept. of Corr., 123 F.3d 855, 857 (5th Cir. 1997). 21 74 To be clear, the PISD was entitled to limit Math Nights to a formal presentation on the implementation of the Connected Math pilot program. See Rosenberger, 515 U.S. at 829 (The necessities of confining a forum to the limited and legitimate purposes for which it was created may justify the State in reserving it for certain groups or for the discussion of certain topics.). If the PISD intended to limit the event in this way, it could have constitutionally placed restrictions on expressive communication at Math Nights so long as those restrictions were reasonable in light of the purpose of the forum and did not suppress a certain viewpoint. The fact that the PISD could have controlled expression at Math Nights in a reasonable, viewpoint-neutral manner does not necessarily mean that it did so in the instant case. While the PISD may have intended a limited presentation at Math Nights, it might also have intended to designate Math Nights as an open forum for debating math curriculum. In that case, any limit on speech related to math curriculum would be subject to strict scrutiny. Since our close examination of the summary judgment evidence surrounding Math Nights raises genuine issues of material fact regarding viewpoint-based discrimination directed at the First Amendment activities of Kirke and Johnson, we do not have appellate jurisdiction over Defendants' interlocutory appeal from the denial of summary judgment based on qualified immunity with respect to the allegations made by Kirke and Johnson related to Math Nights. 75