Case against Forth Worth ISD Settled

Plano, TX- The Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) has agreed to a settlement to allow individuals to pass out constitutionally-protected materials on public sidewalks near and around Fort Worth schools without interruption from school officials. As part of the settlement, the FWISD is paying legal fees of the plaintiff as well.

“The Fort Worth Independent School District has confirmed what Ms. Colston knew to be true: Ms. Colston has a clear constitutional right to distribute religious pamphlets on public sidewalks near schools,” said Dean Malone, lead attorney on the case.

In the fall of 2003, Janice Colston and another individual attempted to pass out religious literature on public sidewalks in front of middle and high schools in Fort Worth. Police and school officials stopped Colston and the individual in numerous separate occasions and told them they could not distribute any materials. A demand letter was sent to the FWISD in February asking that the school district comply with the law and allow for the distribution of constitutionally-protected materials on public sidewalks.

“We are glad the Fort Worth ISD has done the right thing. They should be commended for standing on the side of the Constitution when these violations were brought to their attention,” said Kelly Shackelford, Chief Counsel with Liberty Legal Institute.