Archive

Police Review Board Member Ousted for ‘Abolish Police’ Sticker Sues; City of Tallahassee Seeks to Dismiss

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.

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Former Virginia Tech Athlete Who Refused to Kneel Reportedly to Receive $100K Settlement

A former Virginia Tech women’s soccer player will reportedly receive $100,000, according to her attorney, in a settlement after suing her coach for allegedly retaliating against her for her political views.

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The social media platforms Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Ninth Circuit Affirms Expulsion of California High School Student; Free Speech Protections Don’t Apply

A federal appeals court held that a California public high school was within its rights after it disciplined two former students for creating and interacting with an Instagram account that shared posts targeting their Black classmates.

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Virginia Tech Soccer Player’s Free Speech Lawsuit Continues to Trial

A former Virginia Tech women’s soccer player who refused to kneel in support of political protest in 2020 sued her coach for allegedly retaliating against her and forcing her off the team. On Dec. 2, a federal district judge denied the coach’s motion for summary judgment, advancing the case to trial.

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Supreme Court

Supreme Court Needs to Clarify True Threat Exception; Case Out of Colorado Could Be the Vehicle

Today in this age of increased political polarization and the ubiquity of social media communications, the need for a clear definition of what exactly constitutes a true threat is even more important.

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van after was arrested by British police outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Julian Assange, the Espionage Act and Dangerous Press Freedom Implications

Julian Assange is the first publisher in history to be charged with the World War I-era Espionage Act, igniting pushback from journalists around the world who say this could threaten press freedoms and endanger First Amendment protections.

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Mapping First Amendment Conflicts

The endless challenges to freedom of expression raise vital questions of constitutional law and the place of free speech in a democratic society. Click on the map icons to get brief descriptions of controversies large and small (from 2018 to the present), as well as links to more information.

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U.S. Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Saudi Crown Prince in Journalist’s Killing

A U.S. federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Dec. 6 against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two of his alleged co-conspirators in the murder of journalist and democracy advocate Jamal Khashoggi. President Biden’s administration insisted that the Saudi prince was immune legally as the head-of-state, and the federal judge heeded its suggestion.

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