Posts by Bill Kenworthy:
Photography & the First Amendment
You would think that if you are in a public space and you can see something — an object, a person, an incident — then you could also photograph or film it. The reality is not that simple.
Just in the last few years, some interesting stories have cropped up in the news concerning photographers. A [...]
State shield statutes & leading cases
State-by-state compilation of journalist-shield statutes, cases.
Military speech
When the subject of this article came up during a conversation with a friend and military veteran, he laughed and said he could write the article himself. He said he would simply write “The First Amendment and the Military … it doesn’t apply.”
Certainly this belief is widespread, and actually, it’s not far [...]
Fliers & leafleting
Leafleting is a time-honored and inexpensive way to spread political, religious and commercial messages. In its traditional form, in which leaflets, fliers or pamphlets are handed to people face-to-face on the street, leafleting is a method of speech protected by the First Amendment.
Another form of leafleting has come into fashion — placing information on car [...]
Criminal-libel statutes, state by state
Alabama
“Libel tending to provoke breach of peace.
Any person who publishes a libel of another which may tend to provoke a breach of the peace shall be punished, on conviction, by fine and imprisonment in the county jail, or hard labor for the county; the fine not to exceed in any case $500.00 [...]
Judicial campaign speech
The rule of law is one of the characteristic institutions of a democracy, and of course, this country. To preserve the rule of law, the judiciary must be independent and not subject to pressure from outside influences. Further, the public must have the confidence and trust that its judiciary is impartial, [...]
Arts & First Amendment horizon
Works of art displayed in public settings under public auspices may draw more than critical notice — they may run into censorship, as in several recent incidents.
On March 11, 2008, a lawsuit against Penn State University involving an art exhibit was dismissed after the two parties agreed to a settlement. Joshua Stulman’s student exhibit, “Portraits [...]
Public funding of controversial art
Throughout history artists have produced works which tested society’s
standards of decency. Society, or parts of it, may respond to these
controversial works with harsh criticism and scorn. In free societies, artists
may produce any type of work that their talent, imagination and means can
support, whether it is controversial or not. However, the question arises: Do
artists have the [...]
Note: We 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.
