What Schools Cannot Do Punish you for off-campus speech. Suspend you for exercising free speech at school or for distributing flyers, petitions, wearing badges, or student press articles. Punish you more harshly because of your viewpoint or the political nature of your action. Suspend or expel you solely for walking out, or solely for truancy/tardiness/absence. Suspend for “disruption/defiance” if you’re …
A Year At A Glance
2025 was filled with perseverance and plenty of successes. As the year comes to a close we are proud to continue to embody our firm’s mission in the face of the challenges of our time: to honor those we represent as people, not just cases, and welcoming families and individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to people of …
Regarding The Recent Department of Education Cuts
By Theo MeranzeOver the weekend The Trump Administration fired another large segment of the Department of Education, telling them that their jobs would be terminated on December 9th. The employees that have been cut mainly work within the offices of Special Education Programs and the Rehabilitative Services Administration — the two divisions that make up the Office of Special Education and …
Our Statement Of Opposition To Bill AB715
We at the law offices of Hirji, Chau, & Rodriguez strongly oppose the passage of bill AB715. The legislation undermines the effort to combat anti-Semitism by encroaching upon educators’ academic freedom and deprives students of their right to access important information on the the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Here are some words about the bill from two members of our …
The Implications of Mahmoud V. Taylor
By Theo Meranze On June 27, 2025, in case of Mahmoud V. Taylor, The Supreme Court ruled that religious parents have the right to opt their children out of lessons and books which go against their religious beliefs. The case itself involved parents who sued to keep their children out of lessons which involved LGBTQ+ content. This decision is …
The BBB: Cuts to Medicaid & Snap
By Theo MeranzeA little over a week ago Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) was officially signed into law. It is likely the most consequential piece of economic legislation in recent memory, with stark implications for nearly every person in the country. It includes large cuts and changes to integral programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP. The bill is intentionally …
Trump Freeze
By Theo Meranze Two days ago the Trump Administration announced it was freezing hundreds of millions of dollars of Congress approved federal funding for school districts around the country. The programs affected, such as summer programs, English language instruction programs, and adult literacy programs, have been thrown into disarray as the administration conducts a review to “ensure grants are aligned …
Ways That Californians Are Protecting Their Students
By Theo Meranze Image credit: Faces of People by RiniArt.com On April 7th homeland security agents attempted to get into two elementary schools in South LA without warrants. They claimed to be there to conduct a “wellness check” on four specific students. The officers are reported to have claimed that they had permission from the children’s parents to enter the …
The Attack on Free Speech On University Campuses The Case of Mahmoud Khalil
By Theo Meranze / Rosa K. Hirji On March 8th Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student from Columbia University, was detained by ICE agents at campus housing as a result of his activism on University grounds. He is a legal permanent resident of the U.S. and is married to a U.S. citizen who is 8 months pregnant. Thrown into an unmarked …
Guidance for Students, Workers, and Teachers Dealing With ICE
By Theo Meranze As the Trump administration continues to target undocumented people, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity is ramping up across the state. As a result, schools and other public spaces which house children are in increasing danger of being searched by immigration forces. Undocumented students are thus in danger of being detained and deported. In response to these …