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Fla. man can't get break on city's parking laws
By David L. Hudson Jr. State appeals court upholds Coral Gables ordinances, saying they don't violate lawyer's free-association rights.
08.31.10
No 1st Amendment right to photograph accident scene
By David L. Hudson Jr. Federal judge rules against Guam resident who was arrested after refusing to turn over camera phone to police.
08.30.10
Comments on Net may snare students, teachers
By David L. Hudson Jr. Pupils, instructors must realize Internet isn't liability-free zone; offensive online posts may get them suspended or worse.
08.24.10
Justices can strike a blow for art by accepting junked-car case
By David L. Hudson Jr. Texas businessman appeals to high court, arguing Oldsmobile 88-turned-cactus planter outside store is art.
08.23.10
It’s elementary, children have First Amendment rights too
By David L. Hudson Jr. Unfortunately, some act as those though there is an age restriction on freedoms.
08.19.10
Federal judge OKs size limit for political signs
By David L. Hudson Jr. Court rejects Maryland man's challenge, saying Baltimore County ordinance is content-neutral.
08.16.10
Mayor entitled to immunity after man ejected from meeting
By David L. Hudson Jr. William Taccino contends Maryland mayor had him tossed by police just because he questioned city policy.
08.12.10
Garcetti still laying waste to public-employee speech
By David L. Hudson Jr. Public employers fending off allegations of retaliation by claiming staff criticism was job-related, unprotected.
08.11.10
Judge lacks First Amendment right to insult litigants
By David L. Hudson Jr. Washington Supreme Court rules that treating individuals in court in intemperate way isn't protected speech.
08.10.10
Local officials must make room for adult businesses
By David L. Hudson Jr. Adult establishments often find it tough going to open their doors, despite court rulings that they must be allowed places to operate.
08.05.10
David Mamet’s theater of freedom
By Ronald K.L. Collins Playwright's book takes on political correctness, railing against orthodoxies of thought and speech.
08.04.10
Governments should lay off political yard signs
By David L. Hudson Jr. Laws regulating campaign signs posted by individuals limit core First Amendment political speech.
08.02.10
'In God We Trust' challenge rejected
By David L. Hudson Jr. Motto on U.S. currency does not violate church-state separation, D.C. Circuit rules.
07.27.10
Pro-life T-shirt censorship case to go to jury
By David L. Hudson Jr. Dispute concerns whether California school officials barred girl's shirt because they opposed its message or feared disruption.
07.26.10
Va. can strip liquor from gentlemen's clubs
By David L. Hudson Jr. 4th Circuit says state 'has a legitimate interest in reducing the chances of a person leaving a strip club intoxicated.'
07.23.10
Blog: Wash. court rejects crane operator's libel suit
By David L. Hudson Jr. Man claims newspaper defamed him 'by implication' by the way article juxtaposed different truthful statements.
07.15.10
Blog: 2nd Circuit questions 'twin pillars' of Pacifica
By David L. Hudson Jr. Does second-class treatment of broadcast medium make sense in new media environment?
07.14.10
Blog: Ruling in running for First Amendment decision of the year
By David L. Hudson Jr. Federal judge finds teachable moment in Iowa sheriff’s retaliatory act.
07.13.10
Blog: E-mail to court employee ruled hyperbole, not true threat
By David L. Hudson Jr. But federal judge's decision does little to clarify when expression crosses line from protected to unprotected speech.
06.30.10
Blog: Woman loses free-speech challenge in custody case
By David L. Hudson Jr. California appeals court rejects claim that restraining order barring Victoria Hartmann from obstructing her husband's time with their children was overly broad, vague.
06.28.10
Blog: 2 reports focus on Kagan's religious-liberty views
By Tony Mauro Supreme Court nominee could become important — and different — voice in interpreting religious freedoms.
06.24.10
'Law & Order': lights, camera, First Amendment
By Robert M. Bernstein In 20-year run of hit TV series, detectives and prosecutors frequently tackled difficult First Amendment questions.
06.07.10
Nina Simone’s song of protest
By Ronald K.L. Collins Late, great singer's rage at injustice gets an encore that reminds us why it's vital to exercise our freedoms.
06.07.10
Church founders can't escape drug charges
By David L. Hudson Jr. 10th Circuit finds couple failed to establish that their beliefs about marijuana as sacred substance were sincerely held.
05.25.10
Bankruptcy lawyer's speech suit runs into Supreme obstacle
By David L. Hudson Jr. 2nd Circuit cites recent high court ruling in dismissing Zenas Zelotes' claim.
05.21.10
Blog: N.D. high court finds slur constitutes fighting words
By David L. Hudson Jr. Justices point to conduct accompanying speech in finding no protection for racial taunts.
05.13.10
Blog: Are American-flag T-shirts disruptive?
By David L. Hudson Jr. Without 'reasonable forecast of substantial disruption,' as Supreme Court said in Tinker, prohibiting student speech is mere censorship.
05.11.10
Kagan's First Amendment record causes concern
By David L. Hudson Jr. But experts say nominee's arguments as solicitor general don't necessarily show how she'd rule as high court justice.
05.10.10
Did court act wisely in jailing woman for vulgar T-shirt?
By David L. Hudson Jr. Decision to hold 20-year-old in contempt raises questions of appropriateness — both of the judge's actions and of shirt's slogan.
05.07.10
Blog: Court uses 4th Amendment ruling to skirt free-speech issue
By David L. Hudson Jr. 2nd Circuit decision in retaliation case reveals how recent Supreme Court ruling could hinder further development of First Amendment law.
05.06.10
Obama still playing Bush subpoena game
By Gene Policinski Administration efforts to track down leaks to journalists could backfire if journalists stand fast.
05.04.10
Blog: 'One man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric'
By David L. Hudson Jr. Justice John Marshal Harlan's wondrous 1971 phrase still rings with freedom today.
05.03.10
Blog: Calif. court revises minor's overbroad probation restriction
By David L. Hudson Jr. Measure had prohibited virtually any communication about gang-related symbols.
04.30.10
Blog: N.J. court victory boosts student speech
By David L. Hudson Jr. Federal district judge says school violated student's First Amendment rights when they stopped her from wearing anti-abortion armband, handing out fliers.
04.28.10
Blog: Police — and us — losing big since Garcetti ruling
By David L. Hudson Jr. Supreme Court decision continues to crush claims by law officers about mismanagement, corruption, coverups in police departments.
04.27.10
Blog: Could violence become 'obscene' in law?
By David L. Hudson Extending obscenity concept to violent video games would do lasting violence to the First Amendment.
04.26.10
Blog: Free speech doesn't depend on 'social benefits'
By Gene Policinski Supreme Court's Stevens ruling affirms danger of letting government act as censor, even with best intentions.
04.21.10
Blog: Court refuses to create new free-speech exemption
By David L. Hudson Jr. Chief justice's reasoning in U.S. v. Stevens ensures that not every censor can take his or her slice out of First Amendment pie.
04.20.10
Calif. appeals court modifies probation rules for parolee
By David L. Hudson Jr. Judges find restriction infringes on man's First Amendment right of access to attend criminal, civil proceedings.
04.08.10
Blog: Saving the timid TV press from itself
By Ronald K.L. Collins With hard-hitting, informative interviews, Fox News shows what the craven electronic news media should be doing but aren't.
04.06.10
Blog: Tiger Woods news coverage: intrusive?
By David L. Hudson Jr. Golfer's claims of press 'harassment' may hold up if newsgathering methods are more like stalking.
04.06.10
Speech with a brick behind it: not protected
By Gene Policinski Bitter, bigoted words are allowed under the First Amendment — until they cross a line into what the law calls a 'true threat.'
04.03.10
Blog: Firm can't be sued for using info from offender registry
By David L. Hudson Jr. California court sides with employment-screening company in dismissing suit brought by man mentioned on state site.
04.01.10
Blog: Fla. appeals court nixes prior restraint on writer
By David L. Hudson Jr. Judges make right move in refusing to limit release of info on murdered couple's kids.
03.30.10
Blog: Free speech on display — and off-limits
By Gene Policinski Even as our freedom of speech is robustly exercised in the health-care debate, China reminds us that in many parts of the world, some topics cannot be discussed.
03.23.10
Blog: Onerous limits on juvenile offenders' Internet use is bad policy
By David L. Hudson Jr. Imposing blanket probation restrictions when underlying offense is unrelated to online expression is overbroad and could restrict minor's positive activities on Web.
03.17.10
Blog: 2nd Circuit backs 'Heavy Hitters' law firm
By David L. Hudson Jr. Panel upholds ruling that invalidated New York ban on attorney ads containing client testimonials, nicknames and other features deemed misleading.
03.15.10
Blog: Adult business must have place to relocate
By David L. Hudson Jr. 2nd Circuit says Smithtown, N.Y., officials must give such businesses 'alternative avenues of communication.'
03.12.10
Blog: Garcetti derails another public-employee lawsuit
By David L. Hudson Jr. If worker says she reported abuses in workplace because it was her duty and job, she runs risk of running headlong into legal juggernaut.
03.10.10
Blog: Compelled-speech issues trouble Clarence Thomas
By David L. Hudson Jr. In concurring opinion in Milavetz v. U.S., high court justice expresses doubts about Supreme Court law on government-required disclosures for advertising.
03.09.10
Blog: Court may arm itself with 1st Amendment as it tackles 2nd
By David L. Hudson Jr. If oral arguments in gun-rights case are indication, justices' decision may draw on First Amendment jurisprudence.
03.04.10
Blog: Speech advocates await dogfight-video ruling
By David L. Hudson Jr. Will Court create a new category of unprotected expression in U.S. v. Stevens animal-cruelty case?
02.26.10
Blog: Troubling decision on adult businesses
By David L. Hudson Jr. 11th Circuit allows Atlanta officials to rely on outdated studies from outside the region to justify outlawing liquor in nude-dancing joints.
02.25.10
Blog: Moot Court topic: the zoning of speech
By David L. Hudson Jr. So-called free-speech zones are the subject of this year's First Amendment Moot Court, which opens today.
02.18.10
Christian group's case marshals past plaintiffs
By Tony Mauro Unusual Supreme Court brief filed on behalf of others who claimed religious discrimination at public universities.
02.11.10
Blog: Obscenity online: Do we need a national standard?
By David L. Hudson Jr. Recent ruling raises issue of whether obscenity cases should be judged according to local sensibilities or under a broader view.
02.10.10
Blog: Probation ban on court attendance held too broad
By David L. Hudson Jr. California appeals court says going to court is part of First Amendment right of petition.
02.08.10
Blog: Curse tree-trimmers at your own risk
By David L. Hudson Jr. Arkansas woman who confronted tree workers and cops crossed the line into fighting words, court rules.
02.04.10
Blog: D&D is DOA in prison ruling
By David L. Hudson Jr. 7th Circuit upholds Wisconsin prison ban on role-playing games by inmates.
02.01.10
Hazelwood limits teacher speech, too
By David L. Hudson Jr. Famous case restricting student speech has greater reach, new ruling shows.
01.30.10
Blog: First Amendment doesn't shield too-hearty party
By Gene Policinski Federal judge says Rhode Island town ordinance against raucous parties doesn't violate rights to speech, association.
01.27.10
Blog: Courts deeply split on Ten Commandments displays
By David L. Hudson Jr. Judges' disagreements, such as in recent 6th Circuit case, could lead to further Supreme Court involvement.
01.26.10
Lone vote vs. campaign-ad disclosure: Thomas
By David L. Hudson Jr. Court's most strident opponent of campaign-finance laws says forced disclaimers hurt anonymous speech.
01.23.10
Blog: Kennedy invokes prior restraint
By David L. Hudson Jr. In attacking FEC campaign-finance regulations, justice shows venerated First Amendment concept still carries force.
01.22.10
Garcettized! '06 ruling still zapping speech
By David L. Hudson Jr. Since Garcetti v. Ceballos, public employees wishing to speak out on public matters have had to think twice.
01.15.10
Blog: Google finally takes free-speech stand against China
By Gene Policinski Search-engine company 'no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn.'
01.13.10
Blog: Pew report on local news echoes our survey
By Gene Policinski Newspapers, their Web sites, broadcasting provide most local news.
01.13.10
New report seeks common ground on religion, public life
By Gene Policinski First Amendment Center contributed to joint statement produced by Wake Forest divinity school.
01.13.10
Blog: On campaign finance, there's no doubting Thomas
By David L. Hudson Jr. Justices may be struggling with Citizens United v. FEC, but we know where Justice Clarence Thomas stands.
01.12.10
Blog: Students lose with high court's denial
By David L. Hudson Jr. Refusal to take Texas T-shirt case is blow to student expression.
01.11.10
Blog: Heckling, name-taking fly in face of protest, petition
By Gene Policinski Town-hall shout-downs, government snooping for 'fishy' info serve to drown out our First Amendment freedoms.
08.12.09
Blog: Newspapers in peril? Hold the obituaries
By Gene Policinski While industry may be down, newspapers — and journalism they practice — are likely to be around for a long time.
05.14.09
Blog: Judith Krug, Banned Books Week founder, dies
By Gene Policinski Krug, who was a director at the American Library Association for more than 40 years, will be remembered as a tough, resilient First Amendment advocate.
04.13.09
Blog: Putting Jefferson's beliefs about newspapers to the test
By Gene Policinski Would high value president placed on free press survive current industry challenges?
04.07.09
Blog: Multimedia event explores Facebook rules
By Gene Policinski and Lance Conzett User rights on social-networking sites examined at Belmont University event, which students covered using a panoply of online media.
03.20.09
Blog: Is Obama poster a ripoff of AP photo, or fair use?
By Gene Policinski Legal dispute involving Associated Press photograph involves question of how artists can use images they find online.
02.27.09
Blog: Chimp cartoon illustrates First Amendment at work
By Gene Policinski Amendment protects expression of those whose words — or images — repel or please American sensibilities.
02.25.09
It's Seuss-and-desist at Lou-ville Who-ville
By Gene Policinski Who-ville was a Dr. Seuss kids' Christmas spot, until a lawyer's letter said NOT.
12.03.08
Basic rights aren't up for a vote
By Gene Policinski Those who think gay students can be silenced because town disapproves should recall Jefferson's 'tyranny of the majority.'
08.27.08
Print-video-Web combos making for healthy journalism
By Gene Policinski Scripps award judging shows daily journalism is using 'all tech' to cover crucial news in new ways. Also: Montclair State update.
02.29.08
A campus newspaper reaches out
By Gene Policinski University of South Dakota's Volante undertakes effort to diversify staff, news sources.
02.08.08
Martin Luther King Day reminds us of First Amendment values
By Gene Policinski Civil rights movement enlisted all five freedoms in a quest for justice. Plus: Two new commentaries.
01.18.08
Panel illuminates post-9/11 threats to press freedom
By Gene Policinski American University broadcast program offers good insights into government efforts to block news about some national-security topics.
10.30.07
Bowled over by toilet tirade ...
By Gene Policinski Really — a disorderly conduct charge for cursing at an overflowing commode in your own home? Also: journalist shield, fantasy baseball.
10.18.07
News racks: more important than you might think
By Gene Policinski Nashville mayor vetoes a restraint on press freedom. Also: Reflections on Jerry Falwell, Larry Flynt and free speech.
05.17.07
Remembering Halberstam, role of press in civil rights struggle
By Gene Policinski Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author talked about importance of news media on 'Speaking Freely.'
04.27.07
From Jackie Robinson to Don Imus
By Gene Policinski Comparing what shock-jock said this year with what first black Major League Baseball player heard in 1947.
04.20.07
Now-freed Josh Wolf went to jail ... why?
By Gene Policinski Significance of the video he refused to give up to California grand jury investigating riot: zero to none.
04.04.07
Tragic stories challenge press credibility
By Gene Policinski Support for a free press declines every time there's a sensational overload or a major misstep on a big story.
10.10.06
Video, RSS feeds, podcasts
Video, RSS and podcast offerings on the First Amendment Center Online.
10.05.06
Teens: good news, bad news on First Amendment
By Gene Policinski Knight Foundation study finds more learning about our first freedoms, mixed bag as to respect for them.
09.22.06
Constitution Day: Celebrate with a quiz
By Gene Policinski As we honor the freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights, take this survey to test your First Amendment knowledge against your fellow Americans'.
09.15.06
5 years later, we must reflect on our freedoms
By Gene Policinski How we respond to those 3,000 tragic deaths, and to our soul-searching about fundamental liberties, will be nation’s legacy from Sept. 11, 2001.
09.11.06
Censorship in the name of decency?
By Gene Policinski As some CBS affiliates hesitate to air a 9/11 documentary because of firefighters' foul language, we must ask should we block free and open discussion because the reality of that day's events may offend some?
09.05.06
Good news in judge's fantasy-league ruling
By Gene Policinski Decision that Major League Baseball, players don't 'own' stats or names endorses free flow of information.
08.11.06
Trolling for the new and noteworthy
By Gene Policinski Updates look at recent Supreme Court rulings, video games, and prospects for a journalist shield law.
07.31.06
Blog 1: Welcome and watch
First Amendment Center Executive Director Gene Policinski introduces his new blog that will watch all things First Amendment.
06.30.06
Total of 97 documents available.
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