SMU Donors Meet Stanton Foundation Challenge, Securing the Future of the 1A Clinic

SMU Donors Meet Stanton Foundation Challenge, Securing the Future of the First Amendment Clinic

Gifts totaling more than $6.05 million will sustain the advocacy for the rights of free speech, free press, petition, and assembly.

More than 25 generous donors have given over $1.05 million to the First Amendment Clinic in the SMU Dedman School of Law, completing a challenge by the Stanton Foundation and adding $2 million to the foundation’s earlier $3 million endowment gift. The gifts ensure the clinic will continue to serve the local community and provide real-life legal training for students for years to come.

“We are very appreciative of the generous donors who helped us reach the challenge goal. These gifts will have an immediate impact on our First Amendment Clinic with added resources to sustain their vital advocacy for the rights of free speech, free press, petition, and assembly,” said Jason P. Nance, Judge James Noel Dean and Professor of Law, SMU Dedman School of Law. “The clinic is one of the largest and busiest in our Clinical Program. This generous endowment will allow our clinic staff and students to continue to focus on resolving pressing legal problems for those in our community and uphold the protections guaranteed in the Constitution. We are thankful for the Stanton Foundation’s transformational support.”

The First Amendment Clinic primarily focuses on two areas:

• Counseling and litigating for clients whose First Amendment rights have been violated by the government or who have been the subject of government retaliation because they exercised those rights.

• Counseling and defending clients who have been sued for defamation.

“The First Amendment Clinic, under Director Tom Leatherbury’s leadership and with support from Dean Nance, has consistently defended citizens’ First Amendment Rights across the political spectrum, focusing on core First Amendment issues while giving students an extraordinary opportunity to learn the practical legal skills that will allow these young lawyers to be effective litigators,” said Elisabeth Allison, Co-Director of the Stanton Foundation. “With this new challenge gift, we are pleased to have a greater opportunity to assist SMU in continuing to be a leader in a critically important area in such an important state.”

Since the Stanton Foundation made its initial operating grant to the First Amendment Clinic in 2020, the clinic has helped more than 100 law students develop practical skills while advancing and defending First Amendment rights. The students present arguments in state and federal courts; take depositions; speak at government meetings; draft and file complex pleadings, motions, and briefs; advocate for clients in the Texas Legislature; and counsel those whose First Amendment rights may have been violated – all on a pro bono basis.

“We are grateful for the University’s support and the support of so many friends whose gifts enabled us to receive the Stanton Foundation’s generous additional endowment gift,” said Tom Leatherbury, Director of the First Amendment Clinic, SMU Dedman School of Law. “It’s incredibly meaningful that the Clinic will be able to train students to represent those whose First Amendment rights have been threatened or violated for many years to come, as Dr. Stanton wanted and intended.”

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About the Stanton Foundation
The Stanton Foundation was created by Dr. Frank Stanton, the long-time president of CBS and one of the founding fathers of the television industry. Dr. Stanton was a fierce defender of freedom of speech and the First Amendment and received numerous awards in recognition of his efforts to ensure the freedom of the press.