Free Speech
Why Hate Speech Laws Backfire
A new history of free speech argues the best way to defeat hate speech is by openly confronting it in the public square.
Interesting Public Records vs. Academic Freedom Case Related to Animal Research
UPDATE: As predicted, PETA has moved to intervene. FURTHER UPDATE: The court has indeed allowed PETA to intervene.
College Basketball Star Wayne Arnold (Concordia) Sues for Libel, Discrimination, Etc.
It all started with a stolen PlayStation 5.
Michigan Witness-Retaliation-by-Threats Law Requires Intent to Threaten Physical Injury (or Crime)
One judge would have held that threats to injure reputation are criminalized by the law, but the other two disagreed.
Libel Plaintiff Cites "Cancel Culture" in Seeking Protective Order for Identities of Witnesses
The case stems from defendant's claims that plaintiff, a comic book writer, said racist things to her at a comic-book-business social function.
The Verdict Against Ahmaud Arbery's Killers Highlights the Problems With Federal Hate Crime Statutes
Such laws, which allow redundant prosecutions based on defendants' bigoted beliefs, supposedly are authorized by the amendment that banned slavery.
Can a Web Designer Be Forced To Make Gay Wedding Pages? The Supreme Court Will Decide
Will this follow-up to the famous wedding cake case finally decide if this is mandated speech violating the First Amendment?
Arizona House Committee Approves Bill To Criminalize Filming Cops on the Job
"You'll have a bunch of people who plead to avoid trial or go broke trying to vindicate their rights."
Libel Case Based on Allegations that Plaintiff Had Made Specific Racist Statements Can Go Forward
The plaintiff, Frank Gogol, and the defendant, Malissa White, are both comic book writers.
Licensing of Speaking Professions Doesn't Violate First Amendment
So holds the Eleventh Circuit, as to dieticians, viewing itself as bound by an earlier decision involving interior designers.
Conviction for Surreptitiously Recording Conversation with Police Chief in His Office Reversed;
on remand, jury must be instructed that it has to determine (among other things) whether the defendant “reasonably believed the conversation was not confidential.”
No Sealing of Police Body-Cam Video in Lawsuit Over Confrontation With Police,
even though the video includes a brief appearance by a minor (a friend of plaintiff's).
Court in Civil Case Holds Trump's Jan. 6 Speech Could Be Constitutionally Unprotected Incitement
But the claims against Donald J. Trump, Jr. and Rudy Giuliani are dismissed.
Let's Go Brandon, Fly Your Anti-Biden Flag
Kokomo officials agree not to enforce ordinance banning “obscene, indecent, or immoral” signs against flag that says “Fuck Biden and fuck you for voting for him.”
The Men Who Killed Ahmaud Arbery Were Convicted of Murder. Now They Are on Trial for Racism.
According to a former federal prosecutor, the seemingly redundant case sends "the message that the Justice Department won't tolerate this type of racist hatred."
Jacob Mchangama: How Hate Speech Laws Punish Minorities
In the new book Free Speech, the Danish activist defends radical self-expression from Socrates to social media.
Palin v. NYT Jurors "Learned of the Court's" Decision Against Palin Before Rendering Verdict
"The jurors repeatedly assured the Court's law clerk that these notifications had not affected them in any way or played any role whatever in their deliberations."
Misinformation or Political Dysfunction—Which Comes First?
Plus: Trafficking visas, a new no-fly list?, and more...
Some History of Insults of Lawyers, and Whether They Are Libelous
"He hath no more law than [a monkey/bull/goose]" vs. slight mischaracterization of legal advice.
Court Bars Mother from Exposing "Child to an Activity That Violates" "Child's Orthodox Jewish Chasidic Faith";
N.Y. appellate court reverses the order.
The Heritage Foundation Wants To Break the Internet
The conservative think tank identifies some genuine concerns about tech companies, but gets the prescription wrong.
OK for Judge to Appear in Ad Saying He "Got Into Law in Part to Advocate for Marginalized Communities"
The ad was an ad for a college that he had attended.
