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 […]

PEN America Rebuts Trump’s Motion To Dismiss Suit Over First Amendment Violations

Updated 3/25/2020: District court rejected Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss PEN America’s lawsuit, says the case can proceed. PEN America filed its response to a motion to dismiss filed on […]

Catherine J. Ross: Trump’s Latest Threat To Free Speech And The Academy

Catherine J. Ross, professor of law at George Washington University Law School, explains the possible issues that could arise if President Trump signs an executive order requiring colleges to support free speech on their campuses in order to receive federal research funds. "Ultimately, the central constitutional risk inherent in Trump’s proposed executive order is all too familiar: it will chill protected speech. What’s more, it will likely violate central tenets of the Speech Clause when enforced," she writes.

New Knight Study Released on The Future of the First Amendment

The Future of the First Amendment: 2018 Report of High School Students and Teachers report examines how high school students' attitudes about the First Amendment, censorship, and the news environment are changing and what that means for the future of democracy.

Gene Policinski Commentary: You Think Bombs Will Deter, Discourage And Destroy Freedom? Think Again.

The Newseum Institute’s First Amendment expert, Gene Policinski, originally published this commentary on October 26, 2018, on the Newseum blog, and has given First Amendment Watch permission to reprint.   […]

SCOTUS Nominee Kavanaugh And The First Amendment: His Record, Views, And Controversies

In light of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination, experts weigh in on his First Amendment record with mixed views. During the course of the confirmation process, Kavanaugh was questioned about reporter's privilege and whether he would allow journalists to divulge the details of confidential conversations he had with them decades ago.

State of the First Amendment Scores a B-

Every quarter the Newseum Institute produces a “report card” on how the current administration is faring on the five freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Thirteen First Amendment experts […]

Notable Legal Ruling For Buzzfeed in Dossier Defense

A judge ruled that Buzzfeed may have legal protection for its decision to publish the “dossier” and a brief accompanying article in January 2017, and could claim fair reporting privilege. […]