Free Speech
Government Employee / Political Candidate's Advertising Gun Raffle for Election Campaign May Be Protected by the First Amendment
"Defendants' argument, which attempts to draw an ill-defined connection between a lawful gun raffle hosted on social media, and obviously tragic and unlawful mass shootings at schools, remains predicated upon numerous, dubious inferences ...—if not upon rank speculation."
"Odd," "Unnerv[ing]," "Disturbing," Comments, Post, and Letter to Politician Weren't "True Threats"
"[E]ccentricity and being off-putting is not a criminal offense," even when the speaker mentions the listener's children and other personal details.
Federal Judge Rules Texas Anti-Drag Law Violates the First Amendment
The judge ruled that the law was unconstitutionally overbroad, vague, and viewpoint discrimination.
India's Alleged Assassination of a Dissident in Canada Highlights Repression Across Borders
No place is truly safe for dissidents when governments see no limits to their authority.
Fifth Circuit Panel Reconsidering Part of Its Missouri v. Biden Decision
[UPDATE: Don't blog when tired or in a hurry! I regret to say the original post erroneously said the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc -- the panel just granted panel rehearing, and I've corrected the post accordingly. My apologies for the error.]
Foreigners: When You File in U.S. Courts, You Should Expect U.S. Rules of Public Access to Your Filings
"Plaintiff states that he was not aware that his complaint would be made public, and he suggests that, under Korean law, the personal information of litigants is not made public." But "[w]hether or not he intended to do so, by initiating this action in a United States District Court, Plaintiff has made his name a matter of public record."
Court Refuses to Dismiss Lawsuit Stemming from Parent's Speech About COVID Policies
The parent's comments at a school board meeting led to a "no trespass notice" that blocked him from school district premises (apparently including his children's school).
Houston Police Arrested an Animal Rights Protester and Detained Him for 16 Hours, Lawsuit Says
Daraius Dubash was arrested for peacefully protesting in a public park.
Federal Judge Declines To Stop Drag Show Ban at Texas College
The judge ruled that drag performances are not inherently expressive and that schools could regulate "vulgar and lewd" conduct.
Bahrain's Dictatorship Gets More Biden Administration Help
The U.S.-Bahraini security pact is the first step towards a future U.S.-Saudi “mega-deal.” Critics say it violates the U.S. Constitution and aids torturers.
No, Court Won't Order Removal of Online Copies of the Decision in Your Online Case, Even if
you argue that you're losing job opportunities because employers see that decision.
A Former Twitter Executive's Highly Selective Concern About 'Coercive Influences' on Social Media
Yoel Roth worries about government meddling in content moderation, except when Democrats target "misinformation."
Prosecutor Linda Fairstein's Libel Lawsuit Over Netflix "Central Park Five" Series ("When They See Us") Can Go Forward
"There is evidence that, by opting to portray Fairstein as the series villain who was intended to embody the perceived injustices of a broader system, defendants reverse-engineered plot points to attribute actions, responsibilities and viewpoints to Fairstein that were not hers and are unsupported in defendants' substantial body of research materials."
Ashland Professor Allegedly Ousted for Allowing 'Too Much Investigative Journalism'
After the student paper pressed university officials for interviews, its faculty adviser got into trouble.
Federal Judge Blocks California Online Age-Checking Law as Unconstitutional
Shielding children from “harm” shouldn’t come at the expense of speech protected by the First Amendment.
University's Denying Fellowship to Student Isn't "Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress"
And the case in which the student made such a claim can't be sealed, either.
Kat Timpf: Everything Is Funny and Nothing Is Sacred
The Fox libertarian on why joking around is a vital form of free expression
Morgan Bettinger's Accuser Has a Deal With Dove. That's No Reason To Boycott.
Reason broke the story of activist Zyahna Bryant baselessly accusing a fellow student of racism. It's still wrong to cancel her.
The Things We Can't Say
As the culture war permeates American life, combatants set their sights on the ways we express ourselves.
Quebec's Language Restrictions Limit Freedom of Expression
One Montreal restaurant was cited for having "fish and chips" on its menu.
The Trial Begins: DOJ Sues Google Over Search Engine Dominance
Plus: FDA approves new COVID-19 vaccine, Elizabeth Warren goes after Elon Musk, and more...
The 5th Circuit Agrees That Federal Officials Unconstitutionally 'Coerced' or 'Encouraged' Online Censorship
The appeals court narrowed a preliminary injunction against such meddling but confirmed the threat that it poses to freedom of speech.
Gavin Newsom Spins Revisionist History of His COVID Record
Plus: internet censorship, outdoor dining land grabs, and more...
Free Speech, Social Media Firms, and the Fifth Circuit
The Fifth Circuit was right to rule it was illegal for the federal government to coerce social media firms, but wrong to uphold a Texas law requiring those firms to post material they prefer to keep out.
Are We Living Through a Standing Realignment?
Recent Supreme Court cases suggest that both the left and the right are already repositioning themselves.
What Explains the Discourse on 303 Creative?
Procedure, soundbites, popular views, and more combined to create legally unfounded memes.
Did Factual Revelations Undermine 303 Creative?
Recent reporting doesn't materially undermine, and could even strengthen, the case for standing.
Two-Thirds of College Students Think Shouting Down A Public Speaker Can Be Acceptable
Even at schools with solid speech policies, many students show little tolerance for opposing political beliefs.
Jared Polis: Democrats Are 'More Pro-Freedom Than Republicans'
The Colorado governor finds common ground with many libertarians. But does he really stand for more freedom?
Was There Standing in 303 Creative?
The Court had ample reason to find a "credible threat" of enforcement, consistent with existing case law.
