The Government's Secret 'Google Search' Warrant Trap
With “keyword warrants,” anyone who queries certain terms on search engines will get caught in the surveillance dragnet.
Civil Liberties
Does a Medieval English Statute Supersede the Second Amendment?
New York takes a long shot at saving its firearm carry ban.
Government Eyes In the Sky
The federal government and police are finding new ways to use drones to invade privacy.
A Drone Whistleblower Goes to Prison
Too often, the government punishes citizens who reveal the state's true behavior to their fellow Americans.
Radically Incomplete Reports of Legal Proceedings as Libels
A new short article of mine, calved off my duty-to-take-down-libels article; I'd love to hear feedback, especially suggestions for a clearer title.
Court Orders #MeToo Plaintiff Not to Mention Defendant's Name in Public
The unusually named case is Doe v. Anonymous #1, now pending in Brooklyn state trial court.
Don't Know Much About History
New York’s Supreme Court brief on the Second Amendment is flawed.
Mom Sues Cops Who Arrested Her for Leaving 14-Year-Old Daughter Home Alone
"When my daughter was 12 she'd walk down the streets of Shanghai to get donuts," says the mom, Megan McMurry.
MIT "Could Not Tolerate That a Scientist Be Permitted to Speak About His Uncontroversial Research"
"after daring to express unrelated views that, although controversial, happen to be held by a majority of the American public."
Former Oklahoma U Volleyball Player's First Amendment Claim Can Go Forward
Kylee McLaughlin is claiming coaches engaged in "pressure and retaliation ... due to her political beliefs and her reactions to claims of racism," because of the coaches' "political or social justice beliefs, including support for critical race theory, opposition to President Trump, and a belief that white persons like plaintiff are privileged and racist."
Despite the Injunction Against the Texas Abortion Ban, Clinics That Resume Their Usual Services Could Face 'Crippling Liability'
S.B. 8 allows lawsuits against people who perform prohibited abortions even if they relied on a court's determination that the law is unconstitutional.
Civilian Cops Don't Need Military Weapons
Police are supposed to be part of a community, not an occupying military force armed to the teeth.
A Cop Killed an Innocent Man After a 'Swatting' Prank Call. The City Can't Be Sued.
"It gives cities a protection that ordinary citizens never have."
Can a Federal Judge Stop State Courts From Hearing the Lawsuits Authorized by the Texas Abortion Ban?
In a prior case challenging the law, the 5th Circuit said state judges were not appropriate defendants.
Court 'Won't Sanction One More Day' of Texas Abortion Law
Plus: Twitter's new trigger warnings, good news for food freedom, and more...
Ohio Court Refused to Block Stephanie Grisham from Repeating Allegations Against Congressional Candidate, Ex-Trump Staffer Max Miller
Miller had asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order; no, said Judge Emily Hagan (Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas).
Emerson College Suspends Student Group for Distributing "China Kinda Sus" Stickers
Criticism of a foreign country (or at least this foreign country) is now apparently forbidden by Emerson.
Government Keeps Trying To Censor This Brewery. The Owner Isn't Having It.
"Do you really want to live in a country where government bureaucrats, based on whim and personal preference, can censor whatever they don't like?"
Instagram's Effect on Teens Gives Congress the Latest Pretext To Put Tech on Trial
Plus: California can't limit private prisons, Yellen dismisses bank privacy concerns, and more...
Interesting Unsealing Decision in NXIVM Sex Cult Case
Supportive letters submitted by the defendant at sentencing can’t remain secret.
"The Court's Business Is Done in Public"
"regardless whether the motion [to seal] is opposed or unopposed."
Are These Wyoming Library Books Obscene?
Plus: Most Republicans oppose fetal heartbeat laws, FDA authorizes rapid at-home COVID-19 tests, and more...
A Cop Killed a Suicidal Man and Got Qualified Immunity. Justice Sotomayor Isn't Happy About It.
Qualified immunity "does not protect an officer who inflicts deadly force on a person who is only a threat to himself."
Supreme Court Declines To Hear Louisiana's Defense of a Law That Stamped 'SEX OFFENDER' on Driver's Licenses
The policy imposed an additional form of ritual humiliation on a reviled category of people without any plausible public-safety justification.
Denials of Professional Licenses Based on Past Social Media Posts
Joshua Gray was denied a Maine private investigator license on the ground that his past posts erred in criticizing a Maine State Police lieutenant; we’ve filed an amicus brief supporting the petition asking the Supreme Court to review the matter.
SCOTUS, Under Fire From Left and Right, Is Back in Session With Guns and Abortion on the Docket
The justices robe up for another term.
Ex-Wife Criminally Punished for Talking to Newspaper About Her Police Sergeant Ex-Husband
The court concluded that the conversation violated a previous order barring the ex-wife "from making any other public allegations against the Petitioner, Joe Stark, on social media (on any platform) or to his employer which may affect Petitioner's reputation or employment."
Victims of Rights-Violating California Cops May Finally Get Justice in Court
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed S.B. 2 into law, despite some objections from police unions.
California Business Owners Sue Gov. Newsom Over the Lockdowns
How far do "emergency powers" really extend?
The FBI's Secret FISA Court Surveillance Applications Are Chock Full of Screw-Ups
More than 400 problems were found with 29 warrant requests, twice the number previously revealed.
"What If Trigger Warnings Don't Work?"
"New psychological research suggests that trigger warnings do not reduce negative reactions to disturbing material—and may even increase them."
House Votes to Apply Mandatory Draft Registration to Women
A better way to end sex discrimination would be to simply abolish it for everyone.
'Equity,' 'Multiculturalism,' and 'Racial Prejudice' Among Concepts That Could Be Banned in Schools by Wisconsin Bill
A bill touted as banning "critical race theory" in schools would actually ban a huge array of speech around culture, race, and sex, its sponsor says.
