10th Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Public Right to Record Police
The court referenced First Amendment principles and the previous six U.S. appeals courts' decisions as relevant precedents to decide in favor of a self-identified journalist YouTube blogger, Abade Irizarry.
Arizona Governor Signs Bill to Restrict Recording Police in Public
Arizona Gov. Douglas Ducey signed into law a bill that would make it illegal to photograph or record a police officer in public from a distance of eight feet without the officer’s permission.
Appeals Court Sides with Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen Against Roy Moore in $95M Defamation Case
A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed Thursday a lower court ruling that dismissed a long-running defamation suit brought by unsuccessful senatorial candidate and former Alabama Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
Florida Supreme Court to Decide If Law Enforcement Officers Are Victims in Marsy’s Law Case
The Florida Supreme Court will decide an issue that has broad consequences for holding law enforcement officers accountable.
Supreme Court Backs Praying Football Coach in First Amendment Case
In a long awaited and highly anticipated ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and ruled 6-3 in favor of assistant high school football coach Joe Kennedy who took a knee to pray at midfield at the end of games.
Press Freedom Organizations Condemn Assange Extradition Order
Press freedom organizations worldwide were swift to condemn Friday’s statement by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel that she was proceeding with the U.S. extradition order for imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The Committee to Protect Journalists, (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and PEN International all weighed in, warning of the potentially dangerous precedent this could set for journalists.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune Challenges Order Against Identifying Deputies in Fatal Shooting
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is seeking to overturn an emergency injunction granted by a judge Friday night to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office barring the news organization from publishing the names of two of the deputies involved in a fatal shooting.
Supreme Court Rules Boston Violated First Amendment in Flagpole Suit
On May 2nd, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the city of Boston violated the First Amendment when it refused to let a religious nonprofit fly its flag. Boston City Hall has three flagpoles that fly the American flag, the state of Massachusetts’s flag, and a rotating cast of flags from various organizations that apply for permission.