Civil Liberties
SCOTUS Could Use More Skeptics Like Amy Coney Barrett
The 7th Circuit judge’s track record suggests she would frequently be a friend of civil liberties.
Trump Pushed To Condemn White Nationalist Proud Boys, Instead Tells Them 'Stand Back and Stand By'
Leaders of the organization reportedly see this as tacit approval.
Reputation Repair Service Costs as Measure for Damages in a Libel Case
An interesting decision, on a motion for default judgment.
Don't Sell Weapons to the UAE
Selling weapons to the UAE would stamp brutality and extremism abroad with American approval.
The #FinCENFiles Shine a Spotlight on How Banks Are Ordered to Snoop on You
Why does media coverage conclude the problem is that the government hasn’t done a good enough job of spying?
Mother's "Islamophobic" Remarks About School Board Member Yield Ban from School District Property
(at least unless she gets case-by-case permission to enter that property). But a federal district judge has correctly held that this likely violated the First Amendment.
Amy Coney Barrett Condemns Purdue University's 'Fundamentally Unfair' Adjudication of Sexual Assault Claims
The opinion, which suggests a strong concern about due process, will nevertheless be cited as evidence of the SCOTUS nominee's "uniformly conservative" record.
Are You Ready for a Second Round of Pandemic Lockdowns?
Politicians are poised to tighten the screws, even though voluntary action offers more promise.
Court-Appointed Lawyer Ordered for Junior High Schooler's First Amendment Lawsuit
"The Croziers allege that the teacher 'lied to intentionally defame and label A.C. as a 'racist who said the N-word.'"
"Judges Propose Making Disclosure of Their Personal Details a Crime"
This would include group membership, information about where a spouse works, and more.
Prisoners Have the Right to Access Court Records in Their Own Cases
So concludes the Louisiana Supreme Court, in allowing a prisoner access to the jury vote breakdown in his case—quite important given the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling rejecting Louisiana nonunanimous convictions.
Amy Coney Barrett Thinks the Second Amendment Prohibits Blanket Bans on Gun Possession by People With Felony Records
The SCOTUS contender's 2019 dissent will alarm gun control supporters but reassure people who want judges to take this constitutional provision as seriously as others.
Amy Coney Barrett Demolishes the Qualified Immunity Claim of a Detective Accused of Framing a Man for Murder
The case is an encouraging sign that the SCOTUS contender is not the sort of judge who bends over backward to shield cops from liability for outrageous misconduct.
Section 230's Latest Attacker: The Justice Department
A new DOJ proposal aims to bring the internet communications law in line with Trump's personal interpretation of it.
Resolve the 'Anarchist Jurisdictions' Dispute With Less Government Meddling
Peace will come only from leaving other people alone on the condition that they do the same for us.
Pouring Water on Speaker's Head During Press Conference Doesn't "Constitute[] Protected Speech"
A trial court said this pouring (without the target's consent) was indeed constitutionally protected; it took a 2-1 Texas Court of Appeals decision to reverse that.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Unveils Bill To Stiffen Penalties for Protesters and Punish Towns That Cut Police Budgets
The parts that aren't constitutionally dubious are brainless culture-war fodder.
Belarusian Dictator Orders Polish and Lithuanian Borders Closed
So far, they don't seem to have actually closed the borders. But his threat probably has a different aim.
Two Lawyers Walk Into an 'Anarchistic Jurisdiction'
Perspectives on the proposed federal classification of Portland and other cities in crisis.
Gun Control Puts Your Life at Risk
In the 20th century, far more people were murdered by genocidal governments than by armed criminals.
USC Faculty Reaction to the Great USC Chinese Homonym Panic
"Scathing comments" from an anonymous faculty survey (reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education), plus an article in the Atlantic. You can't buy publicity like that, as they say, or faculty morale like that.
SCOTUS Contender Amy Coney Barrett's Mixed Record in Criminal Cases
While the 7th Circuit judge is often skeptical of the government's position, some of her conclusions will give pause to civil libertarians.
The Justice Department Sees 'Anarchy' Overtaking New York City. If Only That Were Remotely True.
The Big Apple is practically a black hole of overpolicing and regulation.
The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Future of the Supreme Court
What's next for SCOTUS?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RIP
The passing of a feminist heroine, and a giant of American jurisprudence.
Petition to "Impose Further Disciplinary Actions" on University Students for TikTok Singalong
The students are at Florida International University, "Miami's first and only public research university."
Video Game Developers Have First Amendment Right to Base Characters in Part on Real People
So the Third Circuit held yesterday.
Trump Administration Formally Bans TikTok, WeChat Apps From Online Stores in U.S.
There’s nothing good about censoring communication platforms citizens want to use.
Court Rejects Columbus Dispatch's Argument in Favor of Sealing
Newspapers often argue against the sealing of court records; here the newspaper argued in favor.
Japan's Supreme Court Legalizes Non-Medical Tattooing
Before, tattoos could apparently be done only by M.D.s.
Surveying the Federal Government's Kafkaesque System of Legalized Larceny, the 5th Circuit Sees No Due Process Problem
Gerardo Serrano, whose truck was seized over five forgotten handgun rounds, waited two years for a hearing he never actually got.
Creating a Version of a Work Solely for "Artistic Experimentation and to Seek License Approval from the Copyright Holder" = Fair Use
So holds Judge Virginia A. Phillips (C.D. Cal.) in Tracy Chapman's lawsuit against Nicki Minaj.
In 2020, We Have Forgotten How To Leave People Alone
Shopping at Target. Dining outdoors. No activity these days is too mundane for protesters to shout at you for it.
Trump May Tank TikTok Deal With Oracle Because Government Doesn't Get a Cut
Plus: Bill Barr has lost his mind, Salt Lake City officer who ordered dog to bite black man charged, and more...
Judge Upholds Pseudonymity of Cincinnati Police Officer Who Is Suing His Critics for Libel
The question remains pending before the Ohio Court of Appeals.
Attorney General Bill Barr Encourages Federal Prosecutors To Charge Violent Protesters With Sedition
The Wall Street Journal reports that Barr told prosecutors to pursue federal charges, including sedition charges, whenever possible.
Virginia Democrats Declined To End Qualified Immunity. Police Unions Are Alive and Well.
Another example of how powerful the law enforcement lobby is
New FCC Nominee Has Already Been Helping Trump Try To Censor Social Media
Plus: America's global prestige continues to drop, marijuana law enforcement is still racist, Wisconsin and Minnesota voters prefer Biden, and more...
The Justice Department's Investigation of John Bolton Seems Like a Witch Hunt
The Trump administration should discredit the former national security adviser's ideas, not subject him to a retaliatory investigation.
Cuties and Its Critics Both Decry the Sexualization of Children
That point seems to have escaped many people who have not actually watched the controversial film, some of whom think it should banned.
