Miami Herald Reporter Excluded From COVID-19 Press Briefing
Mary Ellen Klas, the bureau chief for the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau, was instead told she could watch the press conference from a live stream video feed, effectively preventing her from asking officials any questions.
Texas Appeals Court Rejects Alex Jones’ Motion to Dismiss Heslin Defamation Suit
The judge has ordered Jones to pay Heslin $22,250 in attorney fees, making the total amount Jones now owes Neil Heslin just under $150,000.
Appeals Court Rejects Request to Review Trump Twitter Case
"The critical question in this case is not the nature of the Account when it was set up a decade ago. The critical question for First Amendment purposes is how the President uses the Account in his capacity as President," Judge Barrington Parker wrote.
Limitations on Gathering Size to Slow Spread of Coronavirus Prompt First Amendment Questions
A group of residents in New Hampshire sued their government following limitations on large gatherings meant to slow the spread of coronavirus. Civil liberties experts explain why these restrictions, even when they affect political or religious gatherings, are likely to be upheld in court.
Florida Works to Keep Official Meetings Accessible Amid COVID-19
Local officials in Florida experiment with digital technologies to ensure public access after the governor suspends law requiring in-person meetings.
Lawsuit Over Chalking Ban Dropped After Iowa State University Changes Some of Its Policies
A lawsuit filed in January against Iowa State University (ISU) has been dropped after the university agreed to amend some of its policies in an out-of-court settlement signed on March 10th.
Justice Department’s Deputy Attorney General Looks to Amend Section 230
“After 25 years, it seems that the time has come for Congress to assess what changes to Section 230 are now needed and whether there are ways to realign some of its incentives in a better way,” Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said.
Newark Warns False Reporting of Coronavirus “Will Be Criminally Prosecuted”
In an attempt to tamp down on misinformation about the coronavirus, Newark’s Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose released a statement on March 11th warning that any false reporting about the virus in Newark could result in criminal prosecution.