Free Speech
Contract Claim Over Private School Expulsions, Allegedly Caused by Parents' Organizing Against Ideological Curriculum Changes, Can Go Forward
"Beginning in the summer of 2020, the school began to change its curriculum to focus on politicized issues of race and gender identity. At some point, the Turpins learned that the school was teaching their sixth-grade child various polarizing concepts such as 'Republicans are white supremacists.'"
Virginia Man Argues His 'FTP&ATF' License Plate Is Free Speech. The Supreme Court Might Hear His Case.
A federal appeals court ruled that Curtis Whateley's anti-police vanity plate was private speech protected by the First Amendment. Virginia says it will seek review from the Supreme Court.
Jeff Merkley Wants To Save Big Government From Donald Trump
The Oregon senator's "For Our Republic Act" would check many of the president's abuses while preserving the powerful federal state he commands.
Trump Media Is Selling Early Access to the President's Truth Social Posts for $100,000 a Month
Press groups are suing Trump Media over the scheme, calling it “profoundly corrupt.”
Court Dismisses Government's Title VI Anti-Semitism Lawsuit Against Harvard
The decision turns on the particulars of the scheme for federal enforcement of Title VI.
Another Social Media 'Addiction' Trial Starts Today. Its Claims Are Weak—but Dangerous.
Meta is on trial for fomenting "FOMO," among other things. It sounds silly, but the playbook used here could work against religious groups, fast food, and much more.
Libel Lawsuit Over Highly Publicized L.A. Landlord-Tenant Dispute Thrown Out
The court is unmoved by plaintiff's claims that defendants' coverage of the underlying dispute led to people threatening her.
"In Its 870 Paragraphs, 269 Pages, and 63 Causes of Action," the Complaint
"is just too damned long"—no, actually, it "includes the kind of extraordinary level of extraneous detail that necessitates repleader."
Free Speech Unmuted: Can AI Libel You? The Robby Starbuck Case
Jane and I examine the Robby Starbuck v. Google decision, one of the first major court opinions arising from generative AI "hallucinations."
"Litigation Often Takes a Toll on a Party's Mental Health on Both Sides of the 'v'"
"But the mental-health effects of litigation are, in a sense, the cost of doing business."
Police Department in South Carolina Says It Has 'Zero Tolerance for Hate Speech'
A free speech organization sent a letter to the police department last week, calling its anti–hate speech post unconstitutional.
Texas Man Arrested After Ranting About Age Verification Laws Blocking His Anime
Did he make a true threat? Or was this just hyperbolic ranting about bad policy?
Federal Court Refuses to Dismiss Case Against Southern Poverty Law Center
The court rejects the argument that the prosecution should be dismissed on the grounds that it's "vindictive."
ICE Spent $525 Million on Surveillance Tech. Some of It Is Infringing on Americans' Freedom of Speech.
New details emerge regarding the Trump administration's surveillance dragnet cracking down on its online critics.
Hawaii's End Run Around Citizens United Faces a First Amendment Roadblock
A new Hawaii law reclassifies corporate political speech as a "power" the state can revoke at will.
Reality Show Participant's #Scandoval Sex Videos Aren't of "Public Interest" for California Anti-SLAPP Law Purposes
Dissent: "We judges can write all we want, but this public voted with its eyeballs."
Senators Want To Claw Back Trump's Spending Power. They Should Just Pass a Real Budget Instead.
The Senate’s funding bill stops the Trump administration from handing political appointees control over federal grants, but Congress isn’t eager to rein in spending.
Minnesota's Nudification Ban Could Punish People Over Parodies and Stripped-Down Selfies. Elon Musk's xAI Is Suing.
The law is written so broadly it could punish services that let you fake an image of yourself in a swimsuit.
VDARE's Libel Case Against N.Y. Times Thrown Out
UPDATE: Though this opinion was handed down just two weeks ago, it turns out to be a slightly revised version of an opinion from July 2022; my apologies for not noticing this at the outset.
No Liability for Parents Over Their Son's Surreptitiously Recording Sex Acts in Their Home
"Suing individuals because they have a homeowner's insurance policy or are collectible defendants is not a proper purpose for a lawsuit."
Oklahoma Anti-Stalking Law Bars Certain Unwanted Speech to Target, not Speech About Target
Oklahoma's highest criminal court reverses a 3-year sentence for "posting a video rant about [defendant's] ex-wife."
Why Does Trump Want To Give Millions of Dollars to Right-Wing Europeans?
Trump opposes foreign influence in American politics, but his State Department is offering millions of dollars to promote Western identity and opposition to “mass migration” abroad.
