First Amendment news stories on Newser

Filmmakers Protest Tribeca Fest Sponsor

Matt Cantor — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:59:05 CDT

A number of filmmakers are fuming over the Tribeca Film Festival's choice of sponsors. Among the festival's backers is Brookfield Properties, owner of Zuccotti Park—the former home of Occupy Wall Street. Brookfield helped empty the park of protesters in a move that violated their First Amendment rights, say the...

Oklahoma Abortion Law Struck Down

Rob Quinn — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:39:00 CDT

An Oklahoma judge has struck down a state law requiring women seeking abortions to have ultrasounds. The district judge decided the law—which required doctors to put an image of the ultrasound in front of the woman and give her a detailed description of the fetus—was unconstitutional because it...

Darrell Issa: This Is About Overreach, not Birth Control

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:57:05 CST

Rep. Darrell Issa says he completely supports a woman's right to use birth control—it's the government overreach that would force a religious institution to pay for that birth control that Issa objects to. Issa's recent Congressional hearing on the controversial contraception mandate—which was slammed by Democrats for lacking...

Should Fake Military Boasts Be a Crime?

Matt Cantor — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:07:05 CST

Since 2006, lying about military valor—claiming to have received a prestigious medal, for instance—could result in prosecution. But that could change after this Wednesday, when the Supreme Court reviews the Stolen Valor Act. Proponents of the law, which include the Obama administration, say it prevents fraud. Such liars...

Arizona Bill Would Restrict Teachers' Speech

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:34:58 CST

Arizona doesn't want its teachers cussing in class—and new proposed legislation would actually make it illegal to do so. GOP state lawmakers are behind Senate Bill 1467, which would require public school teachers to adhere to the FCC's TV and radio standards. That means certain limits on obscene, indecent,...

Occupy Los Angeles Protesters Can Avoid Trials...

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:15:24 CST

To avoid court trials, all many arrested members of Occupy Los Angeles have to do is pay $355 … for a course on free speech. Protesters who opt to take this route will apparently learn that "the First Amendment is not absolute," as a city attorney explains, adding that the...

Court: Call to Shoot Obama Is Free Speech

Kevin Spak — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:34:02 CDT

The First Amendment protects even racists calling for the president’s assassination, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today, overturning the conviction of Walter Bagdasarian. Bagdasarian was convicted of threatening to kill a presidential candidate two weeks ahead of the 2008 election for an online rant in which he called...

Group Sues to Stop Perry's Prayer Day

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:28:14 CDT

The amusingly named Freedom from Religion Foundation isn't happy with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and it's filed a lawsuit claiming that he's violated the First Amendment ban on government-endorsed religion. Perry organized and promoted a Christian prayer event that the group of atheists and agnostics now wants canceled, the AP...

Supreme Court Strikes Down Violent Video Game Ban

Kevin Spak — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:38:55 CDT

The Supreme Court today struck down California’s never-enacted ban on selling or renting violent video games to minors, ruling that it violated the First Amendment. It was a 7-2 decision, with only Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer dissenting, Joystiq reports. “Like the protected books, plays, and movies that preceded them,...