Full Court Press: Perspectives on Covering the Supreme Court
On February 26, 2013, the First Amendment Center and the Supreme Court Fellows Program Alumni Association hosted a discussion about how the news media reports on the Supreme Court. The discussion was moderated by Jim Duff, president and chief executive officer of the Freedom Forum and Newseum. Panelists included: Joan Biskupic, Jess Bravin and Pete Williams.
University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro, Stacey Campfield spar over ‘Sex Week’
University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro defended the Knoxville campus’s spring “Sex Week” program under critical questioning Thursday from state Sen. Stacey Campfield in a legislative hearing.
Fed. court hears appeal over Del. court secrecy
A federal appeals court is weighing the constitutionality of a Delaware law allowing chancery judges to oversee secret arbitration in high-stakes business disputes.
Heritage group appeals city’s Confederate flag ban
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is challenging in a federal appeals court Lexington’s limits on the flying of the Confederate flag.
Holder defends subpoenas for AP telephone records
Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Wednesday that a serious national security leak required the secret gathering of telephone records at The Associated Press as he stood by an investigation in which he insisted he had no involvement.
Arizona House passes bill protecting religion
An effort to allow people to sue over potential violations of religious liberty cleared the Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday despite opposition from civil liberties groups who warn the measure will inspire waves of lawsuits over alleged First Amendment violations.
Senate Dem revives media shield law
A top Senate Democrat plans to revive legislation that would protect journalists and their employers from revealing their sources, days after it was revealed that the Justice Department secretly obtained Associated Press phone records.
Judge refuses to block WWL-TV from airing video
A federal judge has refused to block a New Orleans television station from using surveillance camera video of a confrontation last year inside a supermarket between store employees and an alleged shoplifter who died weeks later.
Dems, GOP raise concerns over subpoenas to AP
The leaders of a House panel told Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday that they had serious concerns about the Justice Department’s gathering of phone records at The Associated Press.
Haslam vetoes bill aimed at animal abuse stings
Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday vetoed a bill that would require images that document animal abuse be turned over to law enforcement within 48 hours, saying his main concern is its constitutionality.
Gov’t probe obtains wide swath of AP phone records
The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press in what the news cooperative’s top executive called a “massive and unprecedented intrusion” into how news organizations gather the news.
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, 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 an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
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.
