Livestreaming Police during a Traffic Stop is Protected Speech, Fourth Circuit Says
A North Carolina man sued a police department and two officers for violating his First Amendment right to record and livestream as a passenger during a traffic stop. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled Feb. 7 that livestreaming the police is protected speech.
Federal Judge Dismisses the Trump Campaign’s Defamation Lawsuit Against The Washington Post
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Feb. 3 ruling the Trump Campaign did not adequately plead the factual basis of actual malice for an allegedly defamatory Washington Post article, and ruled another was protected opinion.
Student Can Wear ‘Jesus Loves Me’ Face Mask; Mississippi School District Settles Lawsuit
A Mississippi public school district agreed to retract a policy in a settlement Jan. 25 after it violated a third grader’s First Amendment right to wear a face mask to school with “Jesus Loves Me” written on it.
Fifth Circuit to Decide if Texas Citizen Journalist’s Arrest Violated the First Amendment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard arguments en banc Jan. 25 in the case of a Texas citizen journalist who was arrested for asking a police officer a question.
Teacher Guide: Speech Not Protected by the First Amendment
This teacher guide discusses many of the important unprotected categories of speech that have led to contentious First Amendment litigation through the years.
A federal judge ordered Donald Trump and his lead attorney to pay nearly $1 million in sanctions after filing a “frivolous” lawsuit to serve a political purpose, the judge wrote Jan. 19.
DeSantis Didn’t Violate Court Order Blocking ‘Stop WOKE’ Act, Federal Judge Rules
A federal judge ruled Jan. 12 that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration did not violate an order blocking the academic provision of the “Stop WOKE” Act, which restricts race-based discussions in higher education classrooms.
The City of Tallahassee filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit on Jan. 5 filed by a former Citizens Police Review Board member who was voted off the board because of an “abolish police” sticker on her cup.