Are the Parents of the Michigan School Shooter Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter?
The charge requires proof that James and Jennifer Crumbley knew their son posed a threat and could have prevented the attack through "ordinary care."
Civil Liberties
Attract Government Attention and Get Your Name Run Through a 'Terrorist' Database
Offending the powerful can be dangerous in an increasingly authoritarian world.
Taking a Page From the Texas Abortion Ban, California's Governor Threatens To Attack Gun Rights With Private Lawsuits
Gavin Newsom is exploring legislation to authorize private civil actions against people who sell "assault weapons" or gun kits.
Judge Limits Discovery of Kevin Spacey's Past Romantic and Sexual Partners
“During discovery, plaintiff shall not inquire of the defendant concerning his prior sexual or romantic experiences ... with anyone unless the identity of the person ... has been disclosed by the [person] or otherwise become public, in either case in connection with a claim, published report in mainstream media, or public allegation that any such sexual or romantic experience or encounter was not in all respects consensual.”
University of Florida Suppresses Speech Ron DeSantis Might Not Like, Report Alleges
Keeping professors from testifying in lawsuits isn't the school's only free speech problem
Veterinarian's Advice May Be Protected by First Amendment
Federal district court holds that the First Amendment sharply limits restrictions on such professional-client speech, at least when the speech doesn’t involve “prescribing medication or reaching a diagnosis.”
Here Is Why a Texas Judge Concluded That the State's Abortion Ban Is Unconstitutional
District Court Judge David Peeples focused on the law's "unique and unprecedented" enforcement mechanism rather than abortion rights.
U.K. Rules Julian Assange May Be Extradited to the U.S. To Face Espionage Charges
In a significant threat to the free press, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces decades in federal prison for leaking classified documents.
The Great Libertarian Gift Guide of 2021
It's time to spread cheer. Reason is here to help.
Pre-Enforcement Constitutional Challenges
There's no general federal right to them; they are often available when a law is enforced by government officials, but generally not as to laws in which private citizens sue (whether over abortion, speech, religious exercise, gun ownership or sales, or anything else).
The ACLU's Push To 'Cancel' Student Debt Shows How Far It Has Strayed From Defending Civil Liberties
The organization's embrace of a wide-ranging progressive agenda undermines its reason for existing.
California Stops Requiring Academic Prerequisites for Horseshoeing Schools
The change stems from a First Amendment case brought by the Institute for Justice, a leading libertarian public interest law firm.
Religious Freedom Doesn't Bar Discovery in Libel Case By High-Level N.H. Catholic Priest Against Dissenting Group
“The Very Reverend Georges F. de Laire, J.C.L., who serves as the Judicial Vicar and the Vicar for Canonical Affairs for the Diocese of Manchester, brings a defamation claim against Gary Michael Voris, Anita Carey, and St. Michael’s Media, Inc. a/k/a Church Militant.”
Showing "20 Shocking China Facts You Don't Know" Video in Class Led to Firing of Minnesota Teacher,
though an arbitrator reduced this to a 40-day suspension.
Crisis at Rikers Island
In 2021, the institutional rot and dysfunction at Rikers Island cascaded into a full-blown catastrophe.
She Got Her Car Back 6 Years After Police Seized It
Malinda Harris’ ordeal shows how easily the government can take innocent people’s property under civil forfeiture laws.
Secret Documents Show Which Message Apps Are the Most FBI-Proof
WhatsApp and iMessage are not as private as you might think.
Teacher Suspended Partly for Quoting (on Personal Facebook Page) Bernie Sanders' "Woman … Fantasizes Being Raped" Essay
"The undersigned finds that despite Mr. Caggiano's belief that his post makes an important point [criticizing] Bernie Sanders, the undersigned finds that it can be logically read to be patently offensive, discriminatory, and degrading to women."
"Trouble Brewing [at Yale] After 'Dehumanizing' Artisanal Coffee Remark"
"The letter condemns Satel for having 'the audacity to challenge Reverend Al Sharpton, an exemplary individual and activist.'"
RIP Phil Harvey, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Who Expanded Human Pleasure and Human Choice
Harvey, who died last week, dedicated his life to supporting human pleasure along with the power to manage it responsibly.
Zoom Conversation Today (Noon Pacific) with Nadine Strossen, Former ACLU Head
The conversation will be about Prof. Strossen's Journal of Free Speech Law article, "The Interdependence of Racial Justice and Free Speech for Racists," and it will be with Profs. Jane Bambauer, Ash Bhagwat, and me.
Zoom Workshop on Prof. David McGowan's Forthcoming "A Bipartisan Case Against New York Times v. Sullivan"
A discussion with Prof. RonNell Andersen Jones (Utah), two noted media lawyers and clinical teachers (Prof. Dale Cohen, UCLA, and Prof. Gregg Leslie, Arizona State), and me about this forthcoming Journal of Free Speech Law article.
En Banc Sixth Circuit Splits 8-8 Over Bump Stock Ban
The district court decision upholding the ATF's conclusion that bump stocks constitute unlawful "machine guns" is upheld by an equally divided court.
234 Million Reason TV Fans Can't Be Wrong! Support Our Video Journalism!
Our videos make the case for "Free Minds and Free Markets" to millions of people a year.
Here Is Why a Federal Judge Blocked Enforcement of the Texas Social Media Law
Gov. Greg Abbott attacks First Amendment rights in the name of defending them.
Twitter's New 'Privacy' Policy Could Destroy Its Value for Decentralized Citizen Journalism
Why give legacy media a stranglehold over information that Twitter at its best is great for sharing?
Connecticut "Racial Ridicule" Ban Challenged in Federal Court
The law is unconstitutional as written—but it has also been used by prosecutors far beyond its specific terms.
§ 230 and the Civil Rights Modernization Act
My testimony today before a House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology hearing on proposed revisions to § 230.
§ 230 and the Protecting Americans Against Dangerous Algorithms Act
My testimony today before a House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology hearing on proposed revisions to § 230.
§ 230 and the SAFE TECH Act
My testimony today before a House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology hearing on proposed revisions to § 230.
§ 230 and the Preserving Constitutionally Protected Speech Act
My testimony today before a House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology hearing on proposed revisions to § 230.
§ 230 and the Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act
My testimony today before a House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology hearing on proposed revisions to § 230.
Plaintiffs Seeking Religious Exemption from Private Employer's Vaccine Mandate Allowed to Proceed Pseudonymously
"Given the charged atmosphere concerning vaccinations and vaccine mandates, and for the other reasons discussed above, the Court is persuaded that this is the rare case where a party should be permitted to proceed pseudonymously."
Facebook Fact-Checkers Are Stifling Open Debate
It's true that some users spread lies on social media. But this can’t be solved by partisan “fact-checking."
Journal of Free Speech Law Panel on Regulating Social Media Platforms Tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11 am Pacific
It's with Profs. Jack Balkin (Yale), Daphne Keller (Stanford), and Mark Lemley (Stanford), moderated by Jane Bambauer (Arizona).
California's Ban on Magazines Holding More Than 10 Rounds Is Constitutional, 9th Circuit Decides
Despite such magazines being widely and lawfully used, and with the ban having been tossed out by other courts and court panels, the 9th Circuit thinks the ban does not violate the Second Amendment
When Does Government "Fairly Represent" Public Interest Groups' Views, Thus Barring Them from Intervening?
An important and interesting question, arising here as to Title IX, free speech, and due process, but relevant more generally as well (and now pending before the Supreme Court).
"Someone Going Through Your Underwear Without Permission" May Be "Highly Offensive"
Even when you're not wearing it.
