Libel, the Knights of Malta, and Demons
Not a new Dan Brown novel.
Free Speech
A Constitutionally Dubious California Bill Would Ban Possession of AI-Generated Child Pornography
The proposal seems to conflict with a Supreme Court ruling against laws that criminalize mere possession of obscene material.
No, Blocking Traffic Is Not Protected by the First Amendment
The freedom to protest is essential to the American project. It also does not give you carte blanche to violate other laws.
"College Is All About Curiosity. And That Requires Free Speech."
An excellent piece in the N.Y. Times Magazine by Prof. Stephen Carter (Yale Law).
Crackdown on Freedom Convoy Violated Canadians' Rights, Says Court
Opponents of pandemic restrictions had their day in court and won a victory for open dissent.
Princeton Allegedly Told Student Journalist Not to Write About Activist Who Got "No Contact" Order Against Journalist
“The safest course of action in terms of a possible violation of the NCO would be to refrain from writing or to be interviewed for articles that mention the name of the student with whom you have an NCO (or to retract them if that’s possible).”
Family Court Ordered Grandmother, Who Had Custody of Child, Not to Testify Against Father at His Parole Hearing
The N.H. Supreme Court reversed the order.
Feds Will Try Backpage Co-Founder Michael Lacey for a Third Time
It's a frightening reminder of how far the government will go to get their way—and to warn tech companies against platforming speech it doesn't like.
Alleged Panama Papers Leaker Still May Not Sue in Federal Court While Hiding His Name from the Court
"Plaintiff is entitled ... to make his own judgment about whether disclosing his identity under seal to the Court would pose an inordinate risk to his personal safety. But he is not entitled ... to special dispensation from the well-established requirements of the law."
Trump's Supreme Court Brief Rebuts the Claim That He 'Engaged in Insurrection'
He is asking the justices to reject the Colorado Supreme Court's conclusion that he is disqualified from running for president.
Democratic Attorneys General Support Censorship
In an amicus brief filed in Murthy v. Missouri, they ignore basic tenets of First Amendment law in order to quash online speech they don't like.
High School Football Coach Isn't a "Public Official" or "Public Figure" For Libel Law Purposes,
even when he "adopted a controversial 'no punt' strategy."
The World Economic Forum Is Begging You To Trust the Science
"There has been a deliberate attempt to inflame the public against experts," warned one Davos panelist.
James Kirchick: 'Abolish Speech Codes Entirely'
How identity politics and institutional cowardice have undermined the free speech on which our society relies.
Free Speech Absolutism in Practice
Author James Kirchick supports the First Amendment, full stop. Why don't more journalists?
AI Fraud Act Could Outlaw Parodies, Political Cartoons, and More
The bill is broad enough to target a Saturday Night Live skit lampooning Trump, a comedic impression of Taylor Swift, or a weird ChatGPT-generated image of Ayn Rand.
"When Someone Loses His Livelihood as a Result of Government Action,
he has a right to know how and why the government took that action.”
"Most Litigants Would Prefer Not to Have Their Medical Problems Published in the Public Records"
But that’s not adequate reason to allow them to litigate pseudonymously, a district court rules.
Lawsuit Over UC Santa Cruz's Diversity Statements Dismissed on Standing Grounds
The court concludes that, because the plaintiff hadn't applied to be hired, he didn't have standing to challenge the policy.
Pro-Palestinian Speech Is Still Free Speech
Republicans should remember that they have spent years railing against censorship on college campuses.
Lab Leak Is Not a Conspiracy Theory, Anthony Fauci Concedes
The doctor's claims that he was open to either explanation is flatly contradicted by his literal words.
William Penn Statue Reversal Shows Positive Power of Social Media
In an era when X (formerly Twitter) is blamed for all the ills of the world, here's a case where it did good.
Notre Dame Professor's Lawyers Argue: Student Newspaper's Mission to Defend Notre Dame's Catholic Character Means …
that it’s probably not “‘trying to advance the public exchange of ideas’ essential to a healthy democracy.”
Professor's Lawyers Argue: Private University Student Newspapers Are "Not Entitled to First Amendment Protection"
The lawyers also argue that the speech in the newspaper was “not made pursuant to its right of free speech, but to instead to advance the personal agendas of male faculty members at Notre Dame [and others].”
Florida Bill Would Make Allegations of Race Discrimination 'Defamation Per Se'
The state Senate bill, which is extremely similar to another House proposal, aims to scrap major First Amendment protections in defamation cases.
No Sealing for Defendant After Pro Se Plaintiffs' Sex Trafficking Allegations Were Dismissed
A good illustration of the strong policy of openness in American court cases, even when defendants argue that unfounded allegations in court records are intruding on their privacy and damaging their reputations.
