Following Supreme Court, Kentucky Judge Lifts Social Media Ban on Sex Offenders
In June, the Supreme Court struck down a North Carolina statute with banned registered sex offenders from accessing social media because it violated their First Amendment rights (Packingham v. North Carolina). […]
Controversial Speaker Causes Florida Governor to Declare State of Emergency
In August, Richard Spencer was at the center of the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. On Thursday, he is set to speak at the University of Florida and Governor […]
Gene Policinski Commentary – To Trump On NBC ‘License’ Tweet: NO!
The Newseum Institute’s First Amendment expert, Gene Policinski, originally published this commentary on the Newseum blog, and have given First Amendment Watch permission to reprint. There’s only one appropriate, spirit-of-freedom […]
Criticism Escalates Over President Trump’s Threats To Revoke Network Licenses
In a rebuke to President Trump’s threats to revoke broadcast licenses, FCC Chair Ajit Pai said at telecom law event, “The FCC under my leadership will stand for the First Amendment, […]
Emotional Distress: “Outrageousness” Has an Inherent Subjectiveness
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress A satiric attack on Jerry Falwell, a Baptist pastor and founder of the conservative group, the Moral Majority, resulted in a major Supreme Court opinion […]
The President’s Mar-A-Lago Retreat and Presidential Access
Throughout history, U.S. Presidents have relied on private retreats to recharge during the trials of governing. George H.W. Bush had a “Summer White House” in Kennebunkport, Maine, FDR built a “Little White […]
ESPN Anchor Suspended for Repeated Controversial Tweets
When is a tweet a fireable offense? ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has been posting comments that have come under increasing scrutiny. Under Connecticut law, ESPN is bound by First Amendment principles of freedom of speech. The network's recent suspension of Hill for her latest tweets may be an employer stating an employee violated social media guidelines or an action that can be challenged in court.
New Poll Says Trust in the Fourth Estate Growing
Reporters have had a tumultuous time under the new administration: called out as fake news, personally maligned and thwarted in their reporting. Trust in the news media plummeted as a result. Now there may be a turnaround according to a new poll in which Americans say the press doing its job well. Will the administration agree?