Tag
First Amendment
Disney

Disney Hopes Prosecutor’s Free Speech Case Against DeSantis Helps Its Own

A decision last week by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived a First Amendment challenge by former prosecutor Andrew Warren.

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Salman Rushdie delivers keynote address at the National First Amendment Summit in Philadelphia

Salman Rushdie Delivers Keynote Address at National First Amendment Summit

The celebrated author and free speech advocate warned of the rise of global authoritarianism in virtual remarks delivered on Wednesday.

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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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Utah Professor Sues University Over Required Pronoun Use, Argues Free Speech Infringement

Richard Bugg, a theater professor at Southern Utah University filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Utah Aug. 31. Bugg, represented by attorney Jerry Mooney with financial support from the FIRE Faculty Legal Defense Fund, argues that he is “opposed to the coercion of speech that is taking place on our campus and on most campuses,” the lawsuit stated.

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Alex Jones talks to media during a midday break during the start of a jury trial in Austin

Sandy Hook Families Demand Probe into Alex Jones-Owned Company’s Bankruptcy Filing

The motion, filed Aug. 25 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, says Jones has “systematically transferred millions of dollars” to himself and relatives, despite the company filing for bankruptcy to allegedly avoid paying damages to the families. In a response filed Aug. 28, Jones’ attorneys state that the families’ “motion is brimming with inaccuracies and allegations that have no basis in fact.”

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Infowars host Alex Jones testifies during his defamation trial in Austin, Texas, Aug. 2, 2022

What Does the Alex Jones Case Mean for the First Amendment and Disinformation? Leading Scholars, Lawyers Provide Analysis

First Amendment Watch asked notable and thoughtful media legal scholars to reveal what this outcome reveals and portends for other Sandy Hook families who filed defamation suits, another in Texas and the third in Connecticut, slated to start next month. Media and legal scholars George Freeman, Lyrissa Lidsky, Lynn Oberlander and Timothy Zick weigh in.

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An interior photo of the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee, Florida.

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.

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An explosion caused by police munition on Jan 6, 2021

Teacher Guide: Disinformation and the First Amendment

Disinformation is more pernicious and widespread today than at any other point in history, largely because of social media and the Internet. For instance, it is now widely known—and verified by the U.S. intelligence community—that Russians interfered with the 2016 presidential election.

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