Dean McGee
Dean McGee is Liberty Justice Center’s Educational Freedom Attorney, where he focuses on empowering parents and students to choose the educational path that best meets their needs.
Home > C.M. v. Davidson County Board of Education
Victory for Free Speech: The Liberty Justice Center announced a victory for free speech in North Carolina where—after over a year of litigation—a federal court approved a proposed settlement in C.M. v. Davidson County Board of Education.
Case Background: On May 7, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit against the Davidson County Board of Education on behalf of Christian McGhee, a sixteen-year-old student whose question about the word “aliens” in English class led to a harsh suspension and false accusations of racism by his own school.
On April 9, sophomore Christian McGhee raised his hand and asked his English teacher whether her reference to the word “aliens” referred to “space aliens, or illegal aliens who need green cards?” Although there was no substantial disruption to the class, the school decided to suspend Christian for three days out of school, with the administration equating his question to a vicious racial slur. Christian was also prohibited from competing in a season-defining track meet. No appeal was permitted.
Having been branded as a racist by his school, Christian’s return was met with ostracism, bullying, and threats. Concerned for his safety, his parents unenrolled him and he is now completing the semester through a homeschooling program.
The Liberty Justice Center sued the school board on behalf of Christian and his family for violating his rights to free speech, education, and due process. The lawsuit argued that the school board had no legal justification to suspend Christian because his comment was protected speech under the First Amendment. The lawsuit also sought to remove the suspension from Christian’s academic record.
In a hearing on July 1, 2025, the Honorable Judge Thomas David Schroeder of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina found that the parties’ proposed settlement was “fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of [Christian].” Court approval to the settlement was a necessary prerequisite to the case’s closure because Christian is a minor. The proposed settlement, once formally adopted by the Davidson County Board of Education, will ensure justice and closure for Christian McGhee.
“The court’s approval represents a critical step towards finally vindicating Christian’s constitutional rights and clearing his record of false allegations,” said Dean McGee, Senior Counsel and Director of Educational Freedom at the Liberty Justice Center.
“We are grateful for the Liberty Justice Center’s tireless efforts to bring justice to our son, and to the members of the current school board who chose to work with us to help resolve the case,” said Christian McGhee’s parents, Leah and Chad McGhee. “Together with the help of our community, we have proved that constitutional rights do not end at schoolhouse doors. We are celebrating this victory and hope it encourages other families to stand firm in the face of adversity.”
C.M. v. Davidson County Board of Education was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina on May 7, 2024.
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Dean McGee is Liberty Justice Center’s Educational Freedom Attorney, where he focuses on empowering parents and students to choose the educational path that best meets their needs.
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