Tenn. judge won’t stop mosque construction
Court says officials violated open-meetings law when they approved site plan for Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, but says mosque opponents must begin new court action to halt building.
D.C. Circuit rules against ex-Gitmo prosecutor
Panel dismisses claims Morris Davis filed against his former boss at Library of Congress, who fired Davis for publicly criticizing Obama administration over Guantanamo detainees.
DOJ agrees some Watergate papers should be released
Still, Justice Department would shield certain documents from 1972 burglary that led to President Nixon’s resignation.
Idaho: Five Wives Vodka offensive to residents
Brand won’t be stocked at state-operated stores, regulators say, because it would offend Mormons.
NYC transit agency settles religious-headwear lawsuits
After years of legal battles, officials agree to allow Sikh, Muslim workers to wear religious head coverings without agency logo.
Old Calif. bank-defamation law struck down
State appeals court rules 1917 law protecting banks from falsehoods and rumors violates freedom of speech and is too broad and vague.
Va. school board votes to remove Ten Commandments
It’s unclear how Giles County panel’s decision to replace display with copy of page from history textbook that mentions Decalogue will affect lawsuit.
N.Y. appellate court: Calling someone gay isn’t slander
Court wipes out decades of rulings, including its own, to say that society no longer treats false comments that someone is gay, lesbian or bisexual as defamation.
Beard-cutting defendants’ challenge of hate-crime law rebuffed
Federal judge also says religious beliefs of victims of alleged attacks in Ohio Amish country are what matter in the case, not those of the defendants.
Among words to avoid saying online: ‘team,’ ‘pork’(?)
London Daily Mail reports that U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released a list of terms it uses to monitor the Net, including social media, for possible threats.
Federal judge cancels Ore. jail’s postcard-only policy
Court issues preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of rules, saying limits likely violate the First Amendment.
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer/First Amendment Center. Previously, Paulson served as editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today and USATODAY.com.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is a scholar at the First Amendment Center. Hudson writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications devoted to First Amendment issues.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
Press Commentary | Ken Paulson | June 1, 2012
Autopsy photos: balancing privacy against public interest
Though it might seem right to keep such pictures private, court’s creation of a constitutional guarantee could raise barriers to important news investigations.