Injunction in Libel Case Against the Spamhaus Project
An interesting decision stemming from a dispute about whether the Spamhaus Project properly placed DatabaseUSA.com on a blocklist.
Civil Liberties
Laws Protecting Private Employees' Speech and Political Activity Against Employer Retaliation: Focused on Political Opinions, Party Affiliation, or Electoral Activities
D.C., Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Washington, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Broward County (Florida), Urbana (Illinois), Harford, Howard, Prince George's Counties (Maryland), Lansing (Michigan).
Court Upholds Ban on Intentionally Photographing Under-18-Year-Olds in Park Without Parents' Consent
Sally Ness, a community activist, wants to record use of the park by a local Islamic school's students; she alleges the school overuses the park, in violation of the school's Conditional Use Permit.
Laws Protecting Private Employees' Speech and Political Activity Against Employer Retaliation: Covering a Wide Range of Speech
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Ann Arbor, Seattle, Madison, and Guam
Oregon Doesn't Get Injunction Against Certain Federal Enforcement Procedures
The State asked the court to impose "(1) a requirement that officers identify themselves and their agency before arresting or detaining any person; (2) a requirement that officers explain to any person being seized that he or she is being arrested or detained; and (3) an enjoinder against arrests that lack probable cause."
"Judge Rules That Seattle Media Must Give Unaired Protest Videos to Police"
Generally, the government has broad authority to require any of us to turn over evidence relevant to an investigation.
Laws Protecting Private Employees' Speech and Political Activity Against Employer Retaliation: Broad Protection for Off-Duty Lawful Activity
Colorado, Montana, New York, North Dakota.
Court Strikes Down Up-to-28-Day Review Period for Demonstration Permit Applications
The Glens Falls (N.Y.) ordinance, the court held, lacked any exceptions for First-Amendment-protected spontaneous demonstrations.
Fordham University Disciplines Student (Austin Tong) for Political Instagram Posts
The student has now sued Fordham
Laws Protecting Private Employees' Speech and Political Activity Against Employer Retaliation: Introduction
These exist in many states and some counties and cities, but are rarely focused on.
Minnesota Supreme Court Strikes Down Blackmail Statute as Overbroad
It's possible that a narrower statute with a "lack of nexus" requirement (see below) might be constitutional, though the majority doesn't discuss that.
Jonathan Rauch on Cancel Culture and the 'Unending Battle' for Free Speech
"The idea that wrongheaded, dangerous, heretical, and blasphemous ideas should be not only allowed but protected is preposterous," says Rauch. And yet, it's "the single most successful social principle ever invented."
Trump Deploys Lawlessness Against Lawlessness
The president’s heavy-handed response to protests against police brutality belies his promise of "law and order."
#MeToo, #TheyLied, and Pseudonymous Litigation
When can libel plaintiffs, suing over allegedly false claims of sexual misconduct, sue pseudonymously? When can defendants defend pseudonymously?
Sending Secret Police To Do Protester Snatch-n-Grabs Is Bad, Mmmkay?
The Reason Roundtable talks Portland, policing, federalism, coronavirus, and the perennially dumb discourse.
John Lewis Was an American Hero Who Battled State Racism
John Lewis' life was a testament to the power of free speech and peaceful agitation.
Kmele Foster on Why He Opposes Cancel Culture and the Anti-Capitalist Side of Black Lives Matter
The Fifth Column podcaster is done with cancel culture, identity politics, and political orthodoxy.
Feds Send Outside Agitators To Escalate Conflict in Portland
Plus: How H-1B visa restrictions cost U.S. jobs, a woman sues the British health service over hormone blockers, and more...
Libel Case Flowing from the Philando Castile Shooting Can Go Forward
Defendant, a local mayor and sheriff's deputy, tweeted about Castile's girlfriend (who had gotten a settlement from local government entities), "She needs to come off County and State Aid now that she has some cash. It'll be gone in 6 months on crack cocaine."
American Airlines Reportedly Accused a Black Social Worker of Kidnapping the White Child In Her Care. Now She's Suing.
Never mind the court order showing the child as a dependent in her care.
A Pandemic of Surveillance
Americans are increasingly monitored, and COVID-19 health concerns aren’t improving the situation.
The Army Tries To Use Esports as a Recruiting Tool, Gets Trolled, Grabs the Banhammer
By kicking out critics on Twitch and Discord, is the military running afoul of the First Amendment?
Libel Lawsuit by Trump Supporter (and Sanctuary-State Opponent) Roslyn La Liberte Against MSNBC's Joy Reid Can Go Forward
So a Second Circuit panel just held.
18-to-20-Year-Olds Have a Right to Buy Handguns
So holds a Virginia state judge under the Virginia Constitution, concluding that the Virginia background check requirement for private sales therefore can't be applied to 18-to-20-year-olds.
How Non-Existent Cancel Culture Works at Princeton and Elsewhere
When a university president threatens a professor with consequences for writing an article, free expression loses out.
Conviction of 17-Year-Old Girl for Threatening Her Mother Reversed
"The record shows nothing more than odious expressions of frustration."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
