Civil Liberties
Supreme Court Makes It Effectively Impossible To Sue Federal Cops, Smashing a 51-Year-Old Precedent
A federal badge will now serve as an impenetrable shield against civil liability.
Biden's Middle East Trip Pits Human Rights Against Realpolitik
U.S. officials want to reset relations with Saudi Arabia and Israel amid rising gas prices and new security challenges
'Jane's Revenge': Abortion Terror Group or Terror Hoax?
Plus: Americans' changing opinions of January 6 riots, Texas craft brewer can "party on," and more...
The ACLU Is Struggling To Find Its Identity In Post-Trump America
Despite its opposition to gun rights for individuals, the ACLU's drift away from its core mission resembles the NRA's recent trajectory.
In Negotiations Over the 'Boyfriend Loophole,' Republicans Show More Concern for Due Process Than Democrats
Senators are mulling legislation that would expand the categories of people who are disqualified from owning guns.
Biden Falls Off the Metaphorical Bike
Plus: The editors unveil their wish list for a hypothetical Libertarian president.
As Pride Month Nears End, LGBT Political Culture Warring Escalates
You’d think drag brunches are why we’re paying $6 a gallon for gas.
Let's Applaud the 10-Year-Old Who Walked to School Every Day for 4 Years
A kid roaming the streets on his own is like an endangered species: once common, now rare, and worth trying to bring back.
Criminal Libel Law, Partly Coming Back in Washington State in Harassment Order Cases
When a judge hearing a protection order petition thinks the defendant is engaged in "harassment," which can include two or more statements the judge thinks is libelous, the judge can effectively criminalize future libels of the plaintiff by the defendant.
Australia Offers a Terrifying Vision of an Internet Without Section 230
What happens when YouTube and Facebook can be held liable for their users’ speech?
Senators Want To Control Google Search Results About Abortion
Plus: Uvalde cops didn't check classroom door, Texas GOP slides further to the right, telemedicine deregulation in peril, and more...
The Meaning of Juneteenth
Far from being somehow at odds with July 4 and the Declaration of Independence, Juneteenth celebrates the greatest achievement of the principles of the Revolution.
University of Houston Rolls Back Unconstitutional Anti-Harassment Policy
Students sued to protect their First and 14th Amendment rights.
Contract Lawsuit Can Proceed, Over Private School Disciplining Student for Alleged Racial Epithet Use
The plaintiff alleged that the Wardlaw-Hartridge School had failed to comply with its own procedural rules in the Student-Parent Handbook.
>$10M Libel Verdicts: They're Not Just for Johnny Depp
But here the Iowa Supreme Court reduced the verdict to $3M, with an interesting analysis of the law of libel.
Iowa S. Ct. Overrules Decision Subjecting Abortion Restrictions to Strict Scrutiny Under Iowa Constitution
The Court doesn't decide whether that means they are subject to an "undue burden" test (as under Planned Parenthood v. Casey) or whether there is no right to abortion under the state constitution.
What Are Ya, Some Kind of Comedian?
Qualified immunity denied in case alleging a probable-cause-less arrest based on plaintiff's (comedian Hannibal Buress's) speech "roast[ing a police officer's] ass."
U.K. Approves Extradition of Julian Assange to the U.S.
The WikiLeaks founder faces espionage charges for publishing classified U.S. information, a prosecution with serious implications for all our First Amendment protections.
YouTube Deleted a January 6th Committee Video for Spreading Election Misinformation
"We enforce our policies equally for everyone," said a spokesperson.
With Roe v. Wade in Doubt, Some Liberals Fault Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Not Retiring Early
Some fans are now souring on her legacy.
Juneteenth Is a Celebration for Everyone
Plus: Fentanyl copaganda, the perils of antitrust populism, a January 6 meme is born, and more...
"[W]ell, People Really Be Tellin', People Be Tellin'. That Is Not Right, That Is Not Right."
A Snapchat post containing this line and "a copy of the police report summarizing [a witness's] identification of [a person] as the shooter" leads to a four-year prison sentence for witness tampering; a New Jersey court says the post is a constitutionally unprotected true threat of violence.
Open the Door to Chinese Migrants Fleeing Brutal Covid Lockdowns
Taking this step is both a moral imperative, and the right way to advance US economic and strategic interests.
3 Supreme Court Cases To Watch in the Next 2 Weeks
Big rulings are coming soon on school choice, guns, and abortion.
White House Consults with Law Professors in Anticipation of Dobbs Ruling (Updated)
The Biden Administration is apparently considering a range of responses should te Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.
Qualifying Qualified Immunity: The Cases in Which the Fair Notice Rationale Clearly Supports …
and clearly does not support qualified immunity.
Seventh Circuit Reinstates Lawsuit Over School Ban on T-Shirts That Depict Guns,
and reverses a precedent that suggested that viewpoint-neutral speech restrictions in public K-12 schools are generally permissible.
Institute for Free Speech Looking for Litigator (with 7+ Years of Experience)
One of the very few jobs where you'd get to litigate free speech law every day
Florida Officials Use a Victim's Rights Law To Stop a Newspaper from Printing Deputies' Names
They shot and killed a man they were trying to evict. Doesn’t the public have the right to know who they are?
Qualifying Qualified Immunity: Why Constitutional Liability Is Generally Less Fair …
than other kinds of civil liability.
Gun Controllers Say They Want 'Reform' but They're Really Pushing Criminalization
The government should loosen laws, reduce conflict between government and the public, and let people defend themselves.
'Red Flag' Laws Require a Tricky Balance
If Congress decides to encourage them, it should not overlook the importance of due process protections.
Not Libel or IIED to Accuse Ex-Son-in-Law of Trying to Turn His Daughter (Accuser's Granddaughter) Lesbian,
at least in text messages to the grandchildren.
$125K Libel Punitive Award Excessive When Jury Found No Compensatory Damages
The award was entered against entertainment executive Damon Anthony Dash, former business partner of Jay-Z; $650K in libel damages to another plaintiff, plus likely $25K of the $125K, remain.
No First Amendment Problem with Routine Anonymous Criminal Juries
"[I]n this internet age, where jurors' names can trigger lightning-fast access to a wealth of biographical information, including addresses, any slightly positive role in divulging jurors' names to the public is outweighed by the risk to jury integrity."
Ohio Teachers Can Carry Guns With 24 Hours of Training
Plus: progressive groups imploding, stock and crypto markets plunging, and more.
