9NEWS: A Denver-based civil rights attorney put Denver Public Schools (DPS) on notice Friday. Should DPS move against a middle school principal who spoke to 9NEWS about safety concerns inside his school, the district can expect to be brought in front of a federal judge.

Attorney David Lane warned DPS it was treading close to a First Amendment violation in its interactions with McAuliffe International School’s Principal Kurt Dennis. Last month, Dennis told 9NEWS that DPS was forcing the staff at McAuliffe to do daily pat downs on a student charged with, among other things, attempted first-degree murder. His words came days after a high school student shot and wounded two East High administrators during a morning pat down there.

“When I saw what happened at East, I recognized the similarities and it really hit a nerve,” Dennis told 9NEWS back in March. “I think it’s important that people know, and I think it’s important that parents know. I think it’s important that school leaders speak out and say, ‘This is not OK and needs to stop.’”

Visit 9NEWS for more.