Saying Someone "Just Likes to Talk a Lot" Is Not Defamatory
What? Is there something supposedly wrong with liking to talk a lot?
Civil Liberties
A Right to a Speedy Jury Trial? Don't Count On It During the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Courts ignore constitutional guarantees while defendants awaiting trial languish in jail.
No First Amendment Right for Protesters to Use Courthouse Restrooms
Yesterday’s Socratic method post followed up today with Jungian analysis.
Political Discrimination Lawsuit Against Apple Can Go Forward
The plaintiff claims Apple was upset about his stance critical of censorship by the Chinese government, in the context of his reviewing the Guo Media App, established by a Chinese dissent.
Facebook Discriminating Against Whites, Males, Americans in Its "Hate Speech" Policy
Speech targeting whites, males, and Americans would be less likely to be blocked as "hate speech," the Washington Post reports.
Posting Public Records Can't Justify Anti-Harassment Order
So holds the Washington Court of Appeals.
FCC Head Ajit Pai on Section 230 and Free Speech
"I am pessimistic about where this goes in the future," says the outgoing chairman, who is stepping down in January.
"Faculty Are Free to … Disagree with Any Policy … of the University … Without Being Subject to Discipline"
Words to live by from the President of the University of Chicago, in response to demands to punish a professor who spoke out against various "diversity, equity and inclusion" programs.
Equal First Amendment Rights for Non-Media Speakers in Oregon
We've just filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking the Oregon Supreme Court to protect such equal rights, and overturn Oregon precedent that denies such rights.
Facial Recognition Programs Are Getting Better at Recognizing Masked Faces
Time to add a hat and sunglasses!
These Mississippi Cops Want a Camera on Your Door
Real-time police spying through smart security cams is already here.
Calling Neighbor "Slum Lord" on Facebook Found to Be Constitutionally Protected Opinion
at least in the context of a Facebook squabble.
"Neither Party Shall Engage in Any Social Media … Which Comments … on the Other Party's Emotional or Mental Health or Personal Behavior"
Another unconstitutionally overbroad injunction, struck down by the Florida Court of Appeal.
Ajit Pai on Net Neutrality, 5G, and Why He Wants To 'Clarify' Section 230
The outgoing FCC chairman discusses 'light-touch' regulation and the future of free speech on the internet.
Cops Raid New York Bar and Arrest Owner for Defying COVID-19 Restrictions
Using police to forcefully shut down Mac's Public House is a violation of liberty and a waste of resources.
This Forfeiture Victim Waited 2 Years Without a Hearing. Is That Due Process?
The Institute for Justice wants the Supreme Court to rule that the Fifth Amendment requires a prompt post-seizure hearing.
In a Complex World, Politicians Have a Simple Demand: More Power
Circumstances change and the world may grow more complicated, but authoritarians never vary from their demand for more power over our lives.
Disarmed but Not Dangerous
A challenge to the federal ban on gun possession by people convicted of felonies gives SCOTUS a chance to rectify its neglect of the Second Amendment.
Following Protests, France Retreats on Plan to Censor Filming of Police
Earlier in November, surveillance footage captured officers beating a man for not wearing a mask.
Second Amendment Litigants Hope To Try Their Luck With Amy Coney Barrett
The Second Amendment Foundation files a flurry of lawsuits in November, with three aiming at laws restricting public carry.
Drone Photography Potentially Protected by First Amendment
So a district court suggests in a challenge to a Texas statute that limits drone photography that "surveil[s]" private property—but that exempts similar surveillance by academics and certain others,
Will Anybody Besides Michael Flynn Get Mercy from Lame Duck Trump?
The president has the worst record for clemency in modern history.
This Woman Permanently Lost Her Second Amendment Rights Because She Lied on Her Taxes
Is this the Supreme Court’s next big gun rights case?
Law Professor vs. Law Blog Commenters Libel Suit Dropped
A company had a trademark canceled in a Trademark Trial & Appeal Board proceeding, based on what the Board described as the company's "delaying tactics, including the willful disregard of Board orders." The TTABlog posted about it, and some commenters criticized the company's lawyer, who sued them for libel.
Bourgeois Libertarianism Could Save America
Don't underestimate the civilization-saving powers of respecting private property and generally minding your own business.
Kentucky Religious Schools Have First Amendment Right to Reopen, Says Federal Judge
The decision should also support secular private schools having similar rights as well. (Public schools are under control of the state government, and lack First Amendment rights against it.)
Court Strikes Down California Limits on Personalized License Plates "Offensive to Good Taste and Decency"
With talk of QUEER, 69, AF, OG, "guns, weaponry, shooting, or an instrument normally used to inflict harm," and more.
Cops Who Beat and Killed an Innocent Man Are Not Entitled to Qualified Immunity, Appeals Court Rules. But the Cops Who Watched Are.
The legal doctrine provides rogue government agents cushy protections not available to the little guy.
Penguin Random House Employees Broke Down in Tears at Thought of Publishing Jordan Peterson's Next Book
"He is an icon of hate speech and transphobia."
Offensive License Plates Are Free Speech, Court Tells California
Plus: National Labor Relations Board rules against The Federalist, France is getting less free, and more...
UMD Public Policy School Mandating Ideological Statements on Syllabus, Requiring That Class "Materials" and "Discussions" "Respect All Forms of Diversity"
Seems quite inconsistent with basic academic freedom principles.
Overbroad Injunction Used to Try to Vanish Articles About Daughter's Property Lawsuit Against Father
A court order, in Kelly Hyman v. Alex Daoud, on its face seems to command all Internet services to remove material that mentions the daughter (Kelly Hyman), or her husband (retired federal bankruptcy judge Paul Hyman).
Predictive Policing or Targeted Harassment?
Audits and research into the effectiveness of predictive policing have yielded mixed to negative assessments.
Maybe He Deserved Those Negative Online Reviews?
"Underhill was disciplined for publicly responding to former clients’ negative online reviews with internet postings that disclosed sensitive and confidential information obtained during the representation. Underhill then ...."
Apple's Chief Security Officer + Santa Clara County Sheriff's Officials Indicted for Concealed Carry License Bribery
California is one of nine states that leaves law enforcement with broad discretion to decide whether to grant a license.
