Civil Liberties
Telemedicine Abortion Gets Green Light From Federal Court
Plus: "Heartbeat law" ruled unconstitutional, introducing the Atlas of Surveillance, Brave New World reimagined, and more...
How China's Clamp Down on Hong Kong Could Affect the Global Internet
Will tech companies resist orders to cooperate with demands for information to root out dissidents?
FitzGibbon v. Radack Settlement
Noted political publicist Trevor FitzGibbon (who had represented Julian Assange) sued whistleblower lawyer Jesselyn Radack (who had represented Edward Snowden) -- a second time; now there's a second settlement.
Should Schools Be Fully Reopened in the Fall?
The Reason Roundtable weighs in on the latest coronavirus policy debate.
Joe Biden Isn't Ready To End Qualified Immunity
In attempting to appeal to everyone, the Democratic presidential candidate misses the mark.
Homeland Security Acting Like 'An Occupying Army' Says Sen. Wyden, After Federal Agents Shoot Peaceful Portland Protester
Plus: Free press threats, marriage licensing woes, Fiona Apple fights for prisoners, Trump spox talk up masks, and more...
Oregon Law Punishes People for Calling the Police, If a Court Finds They Had a Bad Motive --
even if there's nothing at all false in the call.
Judge Allows Professors' Libel Case Against Ex-Students to Go Forward
The ex-students had accused the professors (at the City University of New York) of sexual assault and other misconduct.
After Dems Exaggerate Impact, Panicked Kids Are Suing Over Betsy DeVos Title IX Changes
Distorted partisan descriptions of the Department of Education changes could be doing real damage.
John Roberts Just Annoyed Everybody. Is He the New Anthony Kennedy?
The chief justice has managed to infuriate every major political faction.
Professor Put on Administrative Leave for Accurately Quoting Leading Campus Speech Code Case
The professor, the chair of the Central Michigan University journalism department, was teaching a media law class, and quoted a case that discussed the use of the word "nigger" at public universities.
Garry Kasparov and Me, Talking About Free Speech …
... and, fortunately for me, not playing chess.
"TCPA Class Certification Denial Exposes Major Spousal Scheme" Is a Statement of Opinion,
holds the Second Circuit in a case rejecting a libel lawsuit over a blog post headline.
Dallas Cops Who Joked About Pinning a Man to the Ground Until He Stopped Breathing Get Qualified Immunity
The decision vividly illustrates how the doctrine shields police from accountability for using excessive force.
New York Is Having a Violent Summer, But It's Not Because of Bail Reform
The NYPD is still blaming jail releases, but the data simply doesn’t back that claim up.
Two People Charged With a Hate Crime for Painting Over a Black Lives Matter Mural
Seeking maximal punishment for a nonviolent offense will not help the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Reaction to the Harper's Letter on Cancel Culture Proves Why It Was Necessary
I was one of the 153 signers and am a veteran of the Twitter wars. But even I was taken aback by the swift, virulent response.
Lefties Hate on Liberal Open Letter on Free Speech
But buried beneath the bilious response to the Harper's joint statement is a worthwhile argument about freedom of association.
Qualified Immunity Is a Test for Conservatives
The judicially invented license for police abuse undermines the rule of law and the separation of powers.
"A Letter on Justice and Open Debate," with Many Prominent Liberal Signers
Posted at the Harper's Magazine site.
Robert Kraft and Florida Massage Workers Are Still Fighting Unconstitutional Surveillance Video
"Supreme Court jurisprudence...is heavily weighted against you," an appeals judge told state prosecutors last week.
S. Ct. Strikes Down Content-Based Exception from Robocall Ban,
keeps in place the rest of the law banning robocalls to cell phones.
COVID-19 Pulls Back the Mask on America's Prison System
This deadly and contagious disease has exposed problems with prison systems that have been ignored for decades.
Chicago Youth Nonprofit Sues City After Police Raid Over Free Food for Protesters
Chicago used its food licensing laws to harass a nonprofit providing free food to protesters.
In 2020, Words Are 'Violence,' Arson Is Not
The redefinition of the term diminishes actual victims of violence and trivializes why people are protesting.
Brandon Straka's #WalkAway Lawsuit Against LGBT Community Center Thrown Out
Straka loses on his discrimination, cyberbullying, defamation, and breach of contract claims.
Arizona Gyms Reject Governor Doug Ducey's Shutdown Order
Fitness centers across the state are turning up the resistance to lockdown orders.
"Shitty Media Men" List Libel Lawsuit Can Go Forward
Plaintiff had sufficiently alleged that the defendant didn't just create the list as a platform for others, but herself posted material about him -- though whether plaintiff ultimately prevails will depend on what discovery reveals.
Senate Bill Would Grant Refugee Status to Hong Kong Protestors
The legislation cuts lots of red tape surrounding the visa process.
Mary Trump Temporarily Enjoined from Publishing Memoir—But Injunction Lifted as to Her Publisher
"While Ms. Trump unquestionably possesses the same First Amendment expressive rights belonging to all Americans, she also possesses the right to enter into contracts, including the right to contract away her First Amendment rights." One precedent supporting that proposition: Another Trump v. Trump, a 1992 case involving Ivana Trump and Donald Trump.
Cities Can Accept Some Monuments for Parks -- or Messages Painted on Streets -- Without Having to Accept Others
Washington, D.C.'s writing "Black Lives Matter" on a street and letting others paint "Defund the Police" next to it doesn't require D.C. to let others paint messages on other streets.
Lawsuit Against 'Shitty Media Men' List Creator Can Proceed, Judge Says
Plus: Tech giants will testify in Congressional antitrust hearing, Seattle police clear out CHOP, and more...
Out-of-School K-12 Student Speech Can't Be Punished Even If It Causes "Disruption" at School
So says a Third Circuit panel, though other circuits disagree.
And Another N.Y. Bill Targeted at "Hate Speech" (and Advocacy of Boycotts of Friendly Countries)
This one focuses on student groups that get funding from public colleges, but it's an unconstitutional viewpoint-based restriction.
After 3 Weeks and 4 Shootings, Seattle Dismantles Its 'Autonomous Zone'
Seattle police have arrested dozens of protesters during their sweep of the so-called Capitol Hill Occupied Protest.
Would Derek Chauvin Receive Qualified Immunity for Killing George Floyd?
The answer speaks volumes about the extent to which that doctrine protects police officers from liability for outrageous conduct.
Wesley Yang: Woke Protests Against 'White Supremacism' May Be the New Normal
The Souls of Yellow Folk author says a new "elite consensus" fixated on racial outrage is forming and may destroy our ability to function.
Touching Your Phone While Driving Is Now Illegal in Idaho, Illinois, and Indiana
Plus: More (bad, weird, and occasionally good) new state laws that start taking effect today.
N.Y. State Bill to Ban "Hate Speech" from Social Media
"Hate speech" would be defined as an intentional "insulting statement about a group of persons because of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or physical, mental or intellectual disability."
