NEWS AND VIEWS

Iowa high court overturns Mennonite’s steel-wheel citation

Justices say Mitchell County’s goal of road preservation can be accomplished less restrictively without banning the tractors used by the Mennonites.

Press News | Associated Press | February 4, 2012

Pa. judge: Newspapers can’t review settlement in gas-drilling case

Post-Gazette and Observer-Reporter had sought access to agreement involving a family who claimed the value of its home was wiped out by natural gas drilling on neighboring properties.

Journalists are natural fit as debate moderators

Commission on Presidential Debates places journalists where they should be: As questioners on behalf of the American public.

Speech News | David L. Hudson Jr. | February 3, 2012

Kan. appeals court: Man’s curses at ex-wife were fighting words

Judges reject Kenneth Meadors’ argument that his tirade did not contain any threats and that his speech was protected by the First Amendment.

Contraception mandate outrages religious groups

Critics say federal regulation requiring employers to cover birth control forces people of faith to choose between upholding church doctrine and serving the broader society.

Press News | Associated Press | February 2, 2012

9th Circuit won’t release gay-marriage trial videos

Panel: Judge had promised video wouldn’t be released and ‘integrity of our judicial system depends in no small part on the ability of litigants and members of the public to rely on a judge’s word.’

Speech News | David L. Hudson Jr. | February 2, 2012

Cyberbullying bill introduced in N.Y. Assembly

One Internet-safety expert expresses concern, saying that many terms in the bill — taunting, insulting, humiliating, and embarrassing photographs — are ‘too vague.’

Press News | Associated Press | February 2, 2012

Filmmaker arrested at House subcommittee hearing

Oscar-nominated Joshua Fox was led out of the room in handcuffs and charged by Capitol Police with unlawful entry after trying to film the proceedings without the required media credentials.

Assembly News | Associated Press | February 2, 2012

Court rules against Occupy Maine encampment

Portland officials say they’ll give protesters 48 hours to vacate after a judge finds that allowing them to occupy a city park for an extended period would conflict with others’ right to use it.

Fla. Senate votes to allow student-initiated prayer

Bill’s sponsor says measure would keep students and not administrators in charge of whether and how to deliver messages of inspiration.

In The News | First Amendment Center | February 1, 2012

Law scholar says Supreme Court communicates poorly

Beyond blocking courtroom cameras, Erwin Chemerinsky contends, justices fail to tell public in advance when they’ll rule on cases or explain why they don’t take cases.

Speech News | David L. Hudson Jr. | February 1, 2012

Vt. high court cancels telephone-harassment conviction

Woman convicted under statute forbidding anonymous harassing calls was not anonymous, court holds, because the recipient admitted knowing who she was.

Jesus statue gets reprieve to remain at Mont. ski resort

Official says Forest Service’s decision to reverse its earlier eviction order took into account that the landmark is eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

Petition NewsSpeech News | Associated Press | February 1, 2012

Anti-gay marriage group loses 1st Circuit appeal

Court upholds Maine’s campaign-disclosure law that requires the National Organization for Marriage to release its donor list.