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FOIA

First Amendment Coalition Sues DOJ Over Seizure Of Reporter’s Records

The First Amendment Coalition filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice in federal court in San Francisco alleging that the DOJ violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by failing to provide the documents related to the secret collection of a journalist's phone and email records. 

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Cato's Letters

Cato’s Letters, 1720-1723

Written by two British journalists in the 19th century, Cato's Letters advocated for greater individual liberty and criticized tyrannical systems of government. Cato’s Letters were reprinted widely in the American press to oppose many British measures that the colonists felt violated their rights.

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Gavel

The End of Seditious Libel, 1964

Even after the First Amendment was ratified, the U.S. government found ways to punish dissenters who critcized the government and public officials. Eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that seditious libel, or the crime for criticizing government, was incompatible with the First Amendment.

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Roy Moore and Sacha Baron Cohen

Roy Moore Sues Sacha Baron Cohen For $95 Million In Defamation Case

Click here to see updated post on the dismissal of the suit Former Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is suing Sacha Baron Cohen, CBS, and Showtime for defamation, intentional infliction […]

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Steve Wynn

Ballard Spahr: Nevada Court Rejects Defamation Claim Brought Against Associated Press by Casino Mogul

Reprinted with Permission from Ballard Spahr In an opinion and order issued yesterday, a Nevada state court dismissed with prejudice a defamation claim brought by businessman Steve Wynn against the […]

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John Brennan

Trump Revokes Former CIA Director’s Security Clearance

President Trump implied that the reasoning behind why he revoked John Brennan’s security clearance is because of criticism, noting in a tweet that Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper […]

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Opioids

Ballard Spahr: W. Virginia Court Rejects Claim Opioid Reports Defamed Pharmacist

Reprinted with Permission from Ballard Spahr A West Virginia federal court has rejected defamation claims arising from two Peabody Award-winning CBS Evening News reports about the opioid epidemic. Granting CBS’s motion for […]

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Missouri Department of Corrections badge

Death Penalty Reporter’s Case For Access Can Move Forward

Buzzfeed News investigative reporter Chris McDaniel can move forward with his lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections to be allowed to witness executions, a federal appellate court held. McDaniel— […]

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