Perry v. Sindermann

Robert Sindermann (plaintiff) taught for ten years in the Texas state college system, the last four under one-year contracts at Odessa Junior College, which had no formal tenure system but wanted faculty to feel they had de facto permanent tenure. After Sindermann publicly advocated converting Odessa into a four-year university -- a position the college's board opposed -- his contract was not renewed, with no hearing offered and only a press release alleging insubordination. He sued college officials (defendants) for violating his free-speech and due-process rights; the district court granted summary judgment for the defendants, and the court of appeals reversed.