It's Blacklisting All the Way Down
[UPDATE: See Prof. Hamburger's response below.]
Free Speech
Chris Stewart Wants February To Be 'Uncomfortable History Month'
Nearly 90 gag-order bills would ban schools from teaching the grisly particulars of American history. This activist is fighting against the censorship and for school choice.
Appeals Court Rules Ohio Cops Didn't Have Cause To Arrest Man Wearing 'Fuck the Police' Shirt
The sheriff's deputies are also not entitled to qualified immunity because the First Amendment right to offend police has been repeatedly upheld.
Partisan Politics Cloud the Capitol Riot's Significance
Neither Republicans nor Democrats can be trusted to give an honest account of what happened that day.
George Washington University Backpedals After Agreeing To Investigate Critics of China
"Upon full understanding, I do not view these posters as racist; they are political statements," said university president Mark Wrighton.
Always Glad to Get Pro Bono Court-Appointed Amicus Work
This may be especially helpful in cases involving sealing or pseudonymity, where the parties agree with each other but the public interest ought to be represented.
Lawyer L. Lin Wood Enjoined from Violating Non-Disparagement Agreement
Enforcing that agreement isn’t an unconstitutional prior restraint, holds the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Court Rejects Pacira Biosciences' Trade Libel Claim Over Article in Leading Medical Journal About EXPAREL
"The peer-review process—not a courtroom—... provides the best mechanism for resolving scientific uncertainties."
Should a Christian Group Be Allowed To Fly a Flag Outside Boston City Hall?
The Supreme Court will soon decide a case that tests the limits of expression on government property and religious toleration.
Palin Faces 'Uphill Battle' in Proving the Times Defamed Her
Plus: Mask mandates and omicron cases, purging "pornography" drives calls for book bans, and more...
D.C. Cops Conspired to Keep Records From Reporters, Activists, and Critics, Says Lawsuit
Defense lawyer Amy Phillips is suing over what she calls the department's "watchlist policy."
Judge: Criticisms of Epoch Times Were Substantially True or Opinion, Not Libel
“Like it or not, news analysis is often delivered with plenty of English on the ball in service of an ideological agenda and market viability. Whether such practices contribute positively to delivering our species closer to the truth is a question for philosophers. It is not enough to support a defamation claim.”
U.K. Officials Want Even More Power To Punish You for Being Mean Online
A Scottish man was just convicted for tweeting an insult about a dead person. The authorities already have too much power to censor.
Thomas Calls for Reconsidering New York Times v. Sullivan
Well, it's Judge Bradford Thomas of the Florida Court of Appeal, but still an interesting synthesis of recent criticisms, with some extra analysis added.
Neil Young vs. Joe Rogan: Free Speech Wins
The scandal du jour reminds us that radical free speech is alive and well.
Academic Freedom and Debate About Race-Based Appointments, Hiring, Admissions, Etc.
What do you think Georgetown faculty should be free to say in the public debate about such matters?
11th Circuit Says a Sheriff Violated the First Amendment by Posting Warning Signs on the Lawns of Registered Sex Offenders
Butts County, Georgia, Sheriff Gary Long cited no evidence to support his pre-Halloween stunt.
Magistrate Judge: Calling Police Officer "Pig," "Terrorist," "Punk Ass," and "Bitch" in Facebook Comments Is Obscene …
and unprotected by the First Amendment. An incorrect decision, it seems to me.
Georgetown Suspends Ilya Shapiro, Student Protesters Demand Place to Cry
More than 100 law professors agree that "academic freedom protects Shapiro's views."
The EARN IT Act Is Back. Here's What People Are Saying.
Plus: The #OldProProject, food truck police, and more...
Colorado State University Sign Directs Students 'Affected By a Free Speech Event' To Seek Help
"If you (or someone you know) are affected by a free speech event on campus, here are some resources..."
Extra Remedies for Libel if the Libeler Chose Target Based on Race, Religion, Sex, Etc.?
A lawsuit claims N.Y. law authorizes this; if it prevails, expect many more such claims in a wide range of libel cases.
Limiting Yourself to 7% of the Potential Candidates …
is usually unlikely to yield the best candidate.
Hong Kong's Politicians and Cops Use Pandemic Justifications To Do Beijing's Bidding
What happens in places where the pandemic is a transparent guise for seizing more state power?
Dragging Out Protesters Disrupting City Council Meeting Isn't Excessive Force
The city was not "required to permit the 'organized lawlessness' conducted by the protestors."
My My, Hey Hey, Neil Young's Songs Are Here To Stay (Just Not on Spotify)
Three and a half lessons about Neil Young, Joe Rogan, Spotify, and our age of cultural plenitude
Whole Foods Fight Over Black Lives Matter Masks Pits National Labor Relations Board Against Free Speech
Should Whole Foods be allowed to stop staff from wearing Black Lives Matter masks on the job?
First Amendment Clearly Protects Student Encouraging Classmates to Negatively Evaluate Professor
The school told the student she was "restricted from discussing Dr. Lazorski with any student in the CHE 1800 course or any of Dr. Lazorski's classes."
PETA Sues for Its Free Speech Rights, Again
The Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland won't let the animal rights group advertise on public buses.
D.C. Circuit Rejects Lawsuit Over Rep. Adam Schiff's 2019 Requests to Internet Companies to Deal with "Vaccine-Related Misinformation"
“Appellants offer no causal link that suggests it was an isolated inquiry by a single Member of Congress that prompted policy changes across multiple unrelated social media platforms.”
Submit Your Articles to the Journal of Free Speech Law
UPDATE: "One of our best experiences with a journal yet. Rigorous reviews, supportive editors & simple process. This is what publishing should be like!"
When the CCP Threatens International Students' Academic Freedom
Pandemic-era technologies like Zoom hold great promise, but also create unexpected problems for international students sent back to their home countries.
Maggy Krell Repackages Her Bogus Backpage Prosecution Into a Book
The pimping charges Krell helped bring against Backpage's CEO and founders were twice thrown out of court.
Washington S. Ct. Upholds $18M Fine for Violating Campaign Disclosure Rules
The court rejected an Excessive Fines Clause challenge (by a 5-4 vote) and a First Amendment challenge.
