Teacher and Citizen Guides: Recording Video and Audio of Police Officers
By 2019, more than 81% of Americans owned a smartphone, as compared to 35% in 2011. This has given rise to “citizen journalists” who record and disseminate videos of police officers performing their duties in public. Does the First Amendment protect them, or can the state prohibit the recording of police activity?
Teacher Guide: Prior Restraints—The Most Egregious Violation of First Amendment Rights
The most fundamental violation of freedom of the press is considered to be a prior restraint—an order issued by a court that prohibits the publication or broadcast of material that in some way is deemed especially harmful. Prior restraints have come up in many different contexts, including permits for demonstrations and ratings for movies. In this guide, however, we focus on two of the most important areas—where publication of information may endanger national security and where it may harm a defendant’s right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment.
(Available without registration!) Alex Jones and his website Infowars made repeated claims that the 2012 murder of 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut was a “giant hoax,” possibly instigating a number of his followers to harass the families of the victims. Does the First Amendment protect Alex Jones’ speech?
Deep Dive: The Nicholas Sandmann Defamation Lawsuits
This deep dive includes information about the defamation suits stemming from a viral encounter between a group of high school boys and a Native American activist. Students can use it to understand such as protected opinion, public figure doctrine, and other First Amendment concepts.
Judge Issues Protective Order for LA Times Reporters in Ongoing Lawsuit Against LA County
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that journalists at the Los Angeles Times do not have to disclose the identities of their sources or turn over unpublished material they […]
Missouri Attorney General Changes His Mind About Exceptions to Sunshine Laws
August 21, 2019: “Very Limited Instances” When Privacy Can Be Used to Withhold Government Records, says Missouri Attorney General. On August 20, 2019, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt submitted a […]
Sticker Shock: Charges Dropped Against Man Arrested For “Obscene” Car Decal
A Florida man who was arrested for refusing to alter a car decal a deputy claimed was “obscene” will not be prosecuted, officials said yesterday. Dillon Shane Webb was arrested […]
Rep. Adam Schiff Proposes Amendment To Overturn Citizens United
Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Courts’ 2010 Citizens United ruling that lifted restrictions on corporate campaign contributions. The proposed amendment would allow Congress and states to impose reasonable limits on campaign contributions, and allow states to create mechanisms for public funding of campaigns.