Eugene Volokh is the Thomas M. Siebel Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, and the Gary T. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA School of Law. Naturally, his posts here (like the opinions of the other bloggers) are his own, and not endorsed by any institution. He is also the co-host of the Free Speech Unmuted podcast.
Eugene Volokh
Latest from Eugene Volokh
Jacob Mchangama: "Privileging Blasphemy Norms Over Open Inquiry Plays Into the Hands of Religious Fundamentalists"
A broader perspective on the Hamline controversy.
Correspondence About UC Irvine Professor's Alleged Plagiarism Is Public Record, Subject to Disclosure
Retraction Watch prevails in a California appellate case.
S. Ct. Will Decide: When Must Employers Accommodate Religious Employees' Objections to Work Rules?
Will Justices Marshall and Brennan's views on how interpret the Congressional statute on this question be vindicated, 45 years later?
"[H]ere Come Your Masser" Remark to Neighbor Leads to Anti-"Harassment" Order (on "Hate Speech" Theory) …
but the Michigan Court of Appeals reverses.
"The Houston Restaurant Self-Defense Shooting: Neutralizing a Threat v. Killing a Criminal"
From self-defense law scholar (and former prosecutor) T. Markus Funk.
Harvard Kennedy School Dean Rejects Proposed Fellowship, Allegedly Based on the Person's "Anti-Israel Bias"
The proposed fellow would have been Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, and apparently a highly prominent expert on the subject.
No-Lockdown Sweden Seemingly Tied for Lowest All-Causes Mortality in OECD Since COVID Arrived
Focusing on all-causes mortality, and not just on COVID mortality, helps account for various potential indirect effects of lockdowns.
Taboos in Universities, Against Displaying Certain Images and Quoting Certain Words
"Dr. Kostihova compared showing the image [of Muhammed] to using a racial epithet for Black people ...."
"Father Has Held Himself Out as 'the Father,' … But Father Has Also Referred to Himself as 'the Mother'"
Of course, as usual, the resolution of this questions turns on a question of procedure.
Jen Psaki Was "Apex" Official Who Should Generally Not Be Subject to a Deposition
This is in Missouri's and Louisiana's suit alleging various government officials "are infringing the First Amendment by coercing social media platforms to censor speech."
Court Upholds Law Excluding Male-to-Female Transgender Athletes from Girls' Sports
"The state is permitted to legislate sports rules on this basis because sex, and the physical characteristics that flow from it, are substantially related to athletic performance and fairness in sports."
Dismissing Volunteer City Advisory Board Appointee for Alleged Antifa Links Doesn't Violate First Amendment
The same would apply for other speech or political association, because "political affiliation [was] an appropriate requirement for the effective performance of the public office involved."
Ex-Con Hired as Law Clerk for Michigan Supreme Court Justice, Then Resigns After Controversy Arises
The law clerk robbed a store and shot at police officers, and was sentenced for that in 1994.
Submit Your Articles to the Journal of Free Speech Law, Before You Circulate Them to the Law Reviews
We'll give you an answer within 14 days, and we can publish them within several weeks, if you'd like.
Defaming Like a Rockstar? No, Said Court in Lawsuit Against DaBaby
An interesting illustration of the defamation per se / per quod distinction, recognized in some states.
N.Y. Law Banning Gun Carrying in Churches (Including When Authorized by Church) Unconstitutionally …
discriminates against religious institutions