Archive
U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court Ends Four-Year-Long Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Blocking of Critics on Twitter

On April 5th, the Supreme Court of the United States vacated the Second Circuit’s decision in Knight First Amendment Institute v. Donald Trump, a long-running lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump’s pattern of blocking critics from his personal Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump. 

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Summer Zervos, a former contestant on The Apprentice, leaves New York State Supreme Court with attorney Gloria Allred (not pictured) after a hearing on the defamation case against U.S. President Donald Trump in Manhattan, New York City.

Summer Zervos’ Defamation Suit Against Trump Moves Forward

The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that Summer Zervos’ lawsuit against former President Donald Trump can continue now that Trump is no longer in office. The former "Apprentice" star is suing Trump after he publicly denied her accusations of sexual assault.

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Gavel

Virginia Parole Board Chair Seeks $7 Million in Defamation Lawsuit

Tonya Chapman, chair of the Virginia Parole Board, filed a defamation lawsuit on March 29th in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond against CBS affiliate WTVR-TV and reporter Jonathan Burkett. The lawsuit stems from Burkett’s reporting on a draft report from the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) that allegedly implicated Chapman’s involvement in the early release of a prisoner.

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College campus

First Amendment Watch and FIRE Release New Campus Speech Modules

As the end of the current semester quickly approaches, First Amendment Watch and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education are already thinking ahead to this fall’s freshman orientation season on America’s college campuses. Use our latest orientation modules to talk about student press freedom and student's online speech rights.

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KeyBoard Hatespeech

Campus Speech Module: Student’s Online Speech Rights

In this module we discuss what students can expect when they speak online, as well as how they can respond productively and effectively to views they find distasteful. We also discuss the proper role of college administrators, who can be a resource for students to help guide discussion, without engaging in restrictive practices and censorship.

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free speech reading

Campus Speech Module: Recommended Common Reads from FIRE and First Amendment Watch

Choose from a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles with free expression themes. This reading list is great for administrators looking to assign summer reading, faculty members building syllabi, and student reading groups.

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Reporter's notebook

Campus Speech Module: The Role of Student Publications on Campus

Student journalists and publications play a vital role in informing their fellow students about campus events, serving as a check on their school’s administration, and uncovering stories that outside media might miss. Use this module to understand student journalist’s rights and their limitations.

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College campus

Campus Speech Module: FAQ: The First Amendment and Campus Life

Does the First Amendment apply to private schools? Can universities create policies that regulate student speech? Is hate speech a form of harassment? We created this module to answer basic and frequently asked questions students have about free speech on campus.

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