The Czech Supreme Administrative Court (NSS) has affirmed a fine of 12,000 korunas against Prague-based lawyer Tomáš Nielsen, stemming from written critiques he published during the coronavirus pandemic. Nielsen, known for his firm stance on civil liberties, issued strong warnings to school administrators that adhering to specific government measures designed to curb the virus’s spread would lead to violations of children's and parents' rights, carrying potential criminal reports against the officials involved. This controversial stance was deemed to compromise the dignity of the legal profession, leading to the fine imposed by the disciplinary committee of the Czech Bar Association (ČAK).

The texts in question were released on the website of the Institute of Law and Civil Liberties (Pro Libertate), an organization created to advocate for individual rights and freedoms during the pandemic. The disciplinary committee criticized Nielsen's writings as aggressive, overly simplistic, and inaccurate in their legal interpretations. Despite the identified risks of the health measures on rights, the court found that the way Nielsen conveyed his message was inappropriate and detrimental to the reputation of the legal profession.

In his appeal to the NSS, Nielsen argued that the repercussions of school closures on the mental health of children and young people have become evident over time. He suggested that his criticisms were rooted in genuine concern for these adverse effects, particularly as the fear of psychological damage appeared to escalate. This case presents an important intersection of public health policy, civil rights advocacy, and the accountability of legal professionals in their public communications, raising questions about the balance between free speech and professional conduct during crisis scenarios.