MLK Day + Virginia Gun Rights Rally =
a good reason to repost Prof. Nicholas Johnson's guest-post on 2014, based on his book Negroes and the Gun.
Civil Liberties
"Fraudulent Lawsuits and Illegal Hacks to Silence Online Consumer Complaints"
A new story from Fox 11 (L.A.).
Virginia Gov. Northam Smears Gun Control Opponents to Frighten His Base
If politicians are going to paint their opponents as illegitimate, they should be prepared to receive the same treatment in return.
Should Banks Be in the Gun Control Business?
There is no easy way to determine whether someone is spending a lot on guns because they like guns or because they plan to commit an act of terror.
Senators Propose Limits on Police Use of Facial Recognition
Some privacy activists say the bill still falls short.
Gun Rights Groups Sue Over Virginia Governor's 'Emergency' Ban
The governor fears a gun-rights rally might turn violent; a judge refuses to stop him from barring weapons from the demonstration.
Joe Biden Wants To Destroy Free Speech on Social Media
Biden tells the New York Times he would revoke Section 230 protections and hold Facebook (and other sites) liable for their content.
Colorado Judge Rejects Petition for a Gun Confiscation Order Against a Police Officer
The petitioner, who cited the officer's 2017 shooting of her son, had no standing under Colorado's "red flag" law.
Eminem's Latest Music Video Mixes a Graphic Reenactment of Las Vegas Shooting With a Sappy Call for Gun Control
The song and music video amount to grotesque, self-obsessed celebrity activism.
'Evening With Cancelled Women' Gets Cancelled
The New York Public Library calls off an event featuring feminists who have clashed with the trans rights movement.
Trump and Comey Are United Against Encrypted Communications
Don’t worry—America’s ruling factions still disagree over who should be in charge of the snooping.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Potential Eviction of UConn Students in the "Racial Ridicule" Case
"On the record before the Court, the movants have demonstrated 'sufficiently serious questions going to the merits to make them a fair ground for litigation.'"
Does Letting Police Enter Your House Give Them Permission To Wreck It?
The Institute for Justice asks the Supreme Court to clarify a doctrine that shields cops from responsibility for outrageous conduct.
Precedent Matters at the Supreme Court—Until It Doesn't
A new abortion case raises an old question.
The FBI Wants To Treat Carter Page Warrant Mistakes Like Training Problems. A Court Adviser Says That's Not Enough.
After seriously messing up its warrant applications with the FISA Court, can the FBI be trusted?
Musician Sues Houston For His Right To Play His Accordion In Public
The city limits busking to its tiny Theater District, and it makes you jump through hoops even to play there.
Inclusion in Texas Gang Membership Database Limits Gun Rights, Might Violate Due Process
An interesting federal court opinion.
First Amendment Argument in the UConn "Racial Ridicule" Case
This is the case where two students were shouting "nigger" loudly when walking by UConn dorms; the students are trying to block university discipline based on their speech, including their eviction from student housing.
LAPD Chief Says Its Gang Database Abuse Scandal Now Has 'Criminal Aspects'
At least 20 officers have been suspended while the LAPD investigates the placement of innocent motorists on the gang database.
Students Sue UConn in "Racial Ridicule" Case
The students say their threatened punishment, for walking near student housing shouting "nigger" (at no-one in particular), violates both the First Amendment and a 1990 consent decree.
Florida Deputies Placed on Leave After Video Shows Them Beating, Tasing Suspect
Three deputies were placed on leave after the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office received the video.
The FBI Wants Access to a Mass Shooter's iPhone. Will They Demand a Back Door?
A deadly shooting on a Naval base in Florida may lead to a new battle against encryption.
Court Rejects Motion to Seal Litigation Finance Agreements
"The public may well have an interest in how litigation is funded by third parties," the judge concludes. A law firm and two litigation finance companies are disputing (among other things) whether the litigation finance agreements are illegally usurious.
Dismissing Her Political Opponents As Mentally Ill, Yale Psychiatrist Diagnoses Alan Dershowitz
By complaining to Yale about Bandy Lee's violation of the Goldwater Rule, Dershowitz lets her portray herself as a brave dissident.
Contempt for Renters Leads to Second-Class Search and Seizure Protections
Signing a lease instead of a deed shouldn’t erase your right to be free of government home invasions.
The First Amendment and Privacy: Free Speech Rules (Episode 9)
Episode 9 of Free Speech Rules, a video series by UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh
No Sealing of Photos and Plans of $20M, 29,000 Sq. Ft. House (with 55,000 Sq. Ft. of Improvements)
So a New Jersey tax court held last week, in a case brought by prominent bank founder Vernon W. Hill.
Babson College Adjunct Professor & Administrator Fired for Facebook Post
Asheen Phansey's was responding to President Trump's threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites.
Virginia Legislator Joe Morrissey Gets Called "Fool," Sues, Arguing He's Not a Fool
There's also more to the case, which was brought over statements made on a local TV broadcast while Morrissey was unsuccessfully running for Richmond Mayor. (He is now a state senator, elected in November.)
Connecticut Racial Ridicule Prosecution: One Student Agrees to Probation, the Other's Case Is Still Pending
This is the case in which two students were walking near UConn student housing, loudly shouting "nigger" (apparently after having decided that loudly shouting "penis" wasn't good enough).
Vermont Bill Criminalizing Cell Phone Use for Anyone Under 21 Is a Brilliant Troll
The proposal is parodying, not endorsing, the nanny state.
New Mexico Medical Marijuana Supplier Wins First Amendment Challenge to the State Fair's Absurdly Broad Censorship
The overturned rules banned microscopes and shovels as drug paraphernalia and prohibited pictures of cannabis or the equipment used to grow it.
Populism Comes to Chile
Protesters say the cost of living is too high and wealth is distributed too unequally.
Libel Lawsuit Over Free Meek Documentary, Including Jay-Z, the Rolling Stone Company, and Amazon
The plaintiff is a former Philadelphia officer, who was charged with (and acquitted of) wrongly threatening people with a gun; she claims the documentary wrongly portrayed her as "dirty and dishonest."
Above The Law Post Not Libelous or "Unlawful Discrimination," Notwithstanding Its Supposed "Homophobic" Insults
The statements about former law student Jonathan Mullane were either fair report of court proceedings or constitutionally protected opinions (e.g., calling Mullane "'rude,' 'dumb,' 'unethical,' a 'little entitled ponce,' and a 'dauphin'").
Is the FBI Snooping on Political Groups and Ideological Publications?
The Cato Institute wants Congress to investigate the FBI after it refused to confirm or deny the existence of files on dozens of political advocacy groups.
Motion to Stop Me from Publishing Material …
that I had gotten from a court docket while it has not been sealed, but that the movant is seeking to seal.
CNN Settles Lawsuit With Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann
The high school student was falsely accused of racial harassment, and has sued media companies for $800 million.
LAPD Officers Falsely Identified Drivers as Gang Members To Boost Their Numbers
Chief Michel R. Moore: "There is no place in the Department for any individual who would purposely falsify information on a Department report."
City Says Man's Giant, Semi-Ironic 'Trump 2020' Sign Is a Code Violation
A massive 15 foot tall Trump/Pence yard sign has unfortunately turned political.
Sex Offender Tries to Change Name to "Better Off Dead"
No, says the trial court, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals agrees.
Writer Meghan Daum Thinks You Need To Toughen Up
"If 2018 was the year that the concept of 'cancel culture' went mainstream, then 2019 may be the year that cancel culture cancels itself."
Attempt to Vanish Post Critical of Attempt to Vanish Posts Critical of the Sandy Hook Hoax Libel Judgment
Lenny Pozner has tried to get Amazon Web Services to remove a post of mine.
UMass Amherst Removed a Professor for Showing a Downfall Hitler Parody Video
"The point was to engage students in an otherwise dry and difficult subject material."
