Yale Admits Self-Censorship and Political Bias Are Eroding Trust in Higher Education
The Ivy League school released a self-critical report this week.
Free Speech
62-Year-Old Protester Acquitted on All Charges for Wearing Penis Costume
The judge felt there was probable cause for an arrest but he declined to go so far as to convict.
When the U.S. Censored a Movie About the American Revolution and Imprisoned Its Producer
Remembering the infuriating case of United States v. “The Spirit of ’76.”
ICE Is Determined To Unmask a Reddit User Whose Only Crime Seems To Be Criticizing ICE
After withdrawing a summons in the face of a legal challenge, the government is seeking a grand jury subpoena.
"I Swear, if You Don't Drop Out of Miss Pennsylvania, I Will Come to Your Home and Set It on Fire"
"I don't even care if you or your mom are inside. I actually hope you are. You both deserve to die. I am going to kill you, Robyn. I don't understand why you don't get that. I will burn you. You will die."
Court Ordered Critic of Ex-Mayoral Candidate to Stop "Publicly Writing, Printing, or Speaking [Ex-Candidate's] Name"
Fortunately, an appellate court just reversed the decision.
Anti-Hate Poster Has No Home in Ohio Classroom, Says School District
The poster, which included a rainbow flag, counts as "instruction that includes sexuality content" and triggers an Ohio parents' rights law, the board said.
The FTC's Probe of Media Matters for America Is a Blatant Assault on Freedom of Speech
In the guise of investigating "potentially unlawful advertiser boycotts," the commission is punishing the organization for its views.
Do You Have a Right To Wear a Penis Costume in Public? A 62-Year-Old Alabama Woman Is About To Find Out.
A police officer threw Renea Gamble to the ground and handcuffed her because her costume might have offended his kids.
Seventh Circuit Reaffirms: No Pseudonymity in Title IX Suits Claiming Wrongful Discipline
Many other courts do generally allow pseudonymity in those particular cases, but the Seventh Circuit disagrees.
California Law Restricts Naming Abortion/Gender-Affirming Care Providers/Patients (+ Soon Immigration Support Services Providers?) …
online, after they send a demand that they not be named (and declare that there has been an online-naming-related threat or incitement against them by someone else).
Court Orders OpenAI to Cut off (for 3 Weeks) ChatGPT Access by Mentally Ill and Dangerous User
Could a court likewise order, say, Gmail to cut off a person's access to his Gmail account, if there's reason to think the person has misused that account for criminal purposes? Does it matter that the person isn't a party to the proceeding, and thus can't assert his free speech rights?
A Federal Judge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal
Trump's failure to properly allege "actual malice" is consistent with his long history of filing shaky legal claims against people who say things he does not like.
President Trump's Libel Lawsuit Over Wall Street Journal Article on Epstein's Birthday Letters Dismissed
The court concludes that Trump hadn't adequately alleged facts that would support a finding that the defendants knew the article was false (or were reckless about the prospect); Trump has an opportunity to file an amended complaint if he can identify such facts.
Petitioner's Regret No Grounds for Sealing of 8-Year-Old Restraining Order Documents
Petitioner's new-found "public figure" status, and concerns that records are "impeding his employment, professional credibility, and personal safety," don't justify sealing, either.
Follow-Up to "Reproducing Controversial Tweet in News Story = Fair Use" Post
"Market Erasure," "Three Plinths," "The March 2nd Transformation," "Karen" "branding," and "The Commercially Savvy Lawyer."
UNC Newspaper Halts Satire and Implements DEI Training After Backlash Over April Fools' Issue
Free speech lawyers say UNC violated North Carolina’s institutional neutrality law.
Massachusetts High Court: Claim Against Meta for Alleged Addiction of Children Can Go Forward Notwithstanding § 230
The court doesn't decide whether Meta actually violated state law, or whether it may have a First Amendment defense; those decisions will be made later in the case.
Allegations of Conspiracy Between Univ. of S. Florida and Jewish Groups, Brought by Students for Democratic Society Chapter, Rejected
"In essence, the plaintiffs argue that every time a Jew or Jewish organization contributes to (in this instance) a public university and that university, acting under established policy, disciplines a student who advocates for, in this instance, 'particularly Palestinian" policies, the simultaneous presence of the contribution and the discipline creates a plausible inference of a conspiracy between the contributor and the university to punish the "particularly Palestinian' advocate."
Lawsuits Targeting Social Media Are an Attack on Free Speech
Tech companies that create social media apps should not be blamed for the complex mental issues of everyone who might use them.
Los Angeles Teen Blinded in One Eye by DHS Agent at 'No Kings' Rally, Attorney Says
The 18-year-old college freshman had to have his right eye surgically removed after a federal agent allegedly shot him in the head with a less-lethal weapon.
"There Is No Constitutional Right to Possess a Cell Phone in Class"
"Furthermore, to temporarily deprive a student of his cell phone during a class or a test and return it to them after the class or test is completed (or even at the conclusion of the school day) is not a constitutional violation."
You Don't Have To Like Kanye West To Hate His Ban From Britain
The British government has stopped the rapper from headlining at the London Wireless music festival. Why is that the British government's business?
Ron DeSantis Clamps Down on Free Speech in the Name of Fighting Terror
A new Florida law would allow state leaders to designate certain groups as terror organizations.
Why SCOTUS Ruled 8–1 Against Colorado's 'Conversion Therapy' Ban
Understanding the Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar.
Court Rejects Facial Challenge to Iowa Law Barring Public School K-6 Programming Related to "Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation"
The law provides, "A school district shall not provide any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six." The court held this wasn't unconstitutionally overbroad.
Mesa County Clerk Sentence Violated First Amendment by Relying on "Her Protected Speech Regarding Allegations of Election Fraud"
But the underlying conviction, for false statements related to getting someone access to Dominion Voting Systems election equipment, was upheld.
Sex Educators Say They're Being Harmed by Age Verification Laws
Plus: Wisconsin governor vetoes porn age-check bill, more charges for penis protester, the Komodo dragon theory of social media, and more...
