Supreme Court Revives Suit From Evangelical Christian Challenging Restrictions on Demonstrations
Gabriel Olivier’s lawyers said he was demonstrating peacefully when he was arrested for refusing to move to a designated “protest zone.”
Charlie Kirk’s Open-Air Debates Made Him a Draw on College Campuses. They Also Made Him Vulnerable
Kirk’s open and engaging approach veered from the well-worn tracks of provocateurs who rile audiences in campus lecture halls.
NRA Free Speech Lawsuit Dismissed Against NY State Financial Regulator
The National Rifle Association claimed that a New York state financial regulator coerced and threatened banks and insurers to sever business relationships with the gun group, according to the 2018 lawsuit, which claimed the regulator's "intent [was] to obstruct, chill, deter, and retaliate against the NRA’s core political speech." But, a federal appeals court recently found that the regulator's actions were done in "good faith" and dismissed the complaint.
NJ Court Vacates Obscenity Charge over Profane Anti-Biden Signs
A resident of Roselle Park, New Jersey was charged with violating the town's anti-obscenity ordinance for displaying signs that said "F--ck Biden." On July 27th, a Superior Court vacated those charges on First Amendment grounds.
Trump Settles Defamation Lawsuit Against Wisconsin TV Station
President Donald Trump's reelection campaign sued the local broadcast station in April for running an ad that made it seem like the President had called the coronavirus a hoax. The settlement does not include an apology from Trump, but one of the TV station's attorney framed it as a win for local news.
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.
Iowa State University Faces Lawsuit After Banning Chalk Messages
“Through the use of three policies –a ban on chalking, a prohibition on student emails related to campaigns and elections, and a Campus Climate Reporting System–Iowa State University has created an elaborate investigative and enforcement regime designed to chill speech concerning political and social issues of public concern,” Speech First said in a statement on its site.
Are Political Robocalls Protected Under the First Amendment?
Regulating robocalls based on the content of their messaging presents a more severe threat to First Amendment freedoms than regulating their time, place, and manner," the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in a case involving Montana's robocall laws.