Tracking the modern progress of the First Amendment
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Mar 3rd, 2008
In a rather odd case that has snaked its way through the courts for more than two years, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld charges against a man charged with violating a Virginia state law against sending unsolicited commercial “spam” emails.
The statute prescribes felony charges for anyone who:
“Uses a computer or computer network with the […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press on Mar 3rd, 2008
Another update of a previous story: A federal judge ruled Friday that the leaked-documents website WikiLeaks would be allowed to re-open after initially being shut down for posting confidential bank documents.
The unusual case involved internal documents from the Cayman Islands branch of Swiss bank Julius Baer, purported to include highly damaging information regarding money laundering […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 9th, 2008
Another victory this week for outrageousness in advertising: the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a controversial ad that ran in the Sun-Times last fall did not meet standards for defamation and should be protected under the First Amendment.
The ad, paid for by the Chicago clothing retailer Cosmo’s Designer Direct, appears to contain veiled references […]
Posted in Redress of Grievances on Feb 3rd, 2008
Three people arrested for violating an Oklahoma petition law pleaded not guilty this week to charges of conspiracy to defraud the state.
The three – Paul Jacob, Rick Carpenter and Susan Johnson – were indicted after taking part in a petitioning campaign in October in which they called for, among other things, inclusion of a […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Feb 2nd, 2008
A federal judge has exonerated five anti-war protesters who were ticketed for encouraging passing motorists to “honk for peace.” The protesters, and one driver who had honked in support, had been cited for disturbing the peace (ironic, no?).
The ACLU’s Michigan office intervened in April, suing the city of Ferndale for violating the group’s First Amendment […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Jan 30th, 2008
A federal judge said Tuesday that an acquitted suspect in a terror plot to destroy the Sears Tower will now be allowed to speak freely about the government’s attempts to deport him.
Haiti citizen and U.S. legal resident Lyglenson Lemorin had been accused of being a member of the Liberty City Seven group charged with planning […]
Posted in Freedom of Speech on Jan 27th, 2008
Massachusetts anti-abortion protesters are contesting a state law requiring them to stay at least 35 feet away from the entrances of clinics where abortions are performed.
The protesters, who filed suit January 18, say the law violates their First Amendment rights of free speech and free assembly.
Proponents of the bill, including the state’s Planned Parenthood offices, […]
Posted in Freedom of the Press on Jan 25th, 2008
The Utah Supreme Court gave its approval Wednesday for a proposed law to protect reporters from having to disclose confidential sources and turning over unpublished notes and records. The only circumstances in which a journalist could be compelled to reveal this information would be cases in which there is
clear and convincing evidence that disclosure is […]
Posted in Freedom of Religion, Speech in Education on Jan 18th, 2008
Politicians, parents and educators are at odds this week over whether homosexuality should legally be included in lesson plans for public school sexual education courses.
Arguments held before the Circuit Court in Montgomery County, Maryland, on Wednesday pitted school officials - who believe that lesson plans should be left to educators - against parents and other […]
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