Results for: First Amendment

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recently delivered a speech at Franciscan University of Steubenville, expressing his alarm over the diminishing support for freedom of speech. Justice Alito shared an incident involving his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, who hung an American flag upside down outside their home in response to offensive signage and verbal abuse from a neighbor. The incident highlights the increasing polarization and hostility towards freedom of expression, particularly in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol protests.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has been praised for its recent ban on biological men from participating in women’s sports. Former University of Kentucky swimmer Kaitlynn Wheeler has expressed her support for the ban, stating that it shows ‘real leadership.’

The ban came after a controversial incident at a library event in California, where former collegiate soccer player Sophia Lorey was shouted down by hecklers who accused her of ‘misgendering’ by using the phrase ‘men in women’s sports.’ The library officials subsequently shut down the event, claiming that Lorey’s speech violated library policy.

Lorey, along with other women’s advocates, filed a lawsuit against the library officials for violating their First Amendment rights. The case was recently settled, with the library officials agreeing to change their policy and allow Lorey and her supporters to hold a do-over event.

Representative Andy Ogles has introduced the “Let Trump Speak Act” in the House of Representatives. This bill aims to prohibit judges from issuing gag orders to defendants, including former President Trump, in any criminal or civil proceeding. The bill argues that the right to free speech, as protected by the First Amendment, should not be infringed upon, especially for political motivations. The bill has garnered support from several Republican co-sponsors, who believe that the gag order against Trump is unconstitutional and an attempt to silence him. The bill’s introduction comes after the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court rejected Trump’s request to end the gag order, which restricts him from speaking publicly about aspects of his criminal case.

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Pennsylvania town’s ordinance limiting lawn signs violates the First Amendment rights of residents. The ordinance, passed in 2021, restricted the number, size, and duration of non-commercial signs, including political signs. The court found that the ordinance discriminated based on content, was overly broad, and lacked a compelling reason to limit free speech.

A federal judge in Arkansas has ruled that the state cannot prevent two high school teachers from discussing critical race theory in the classroom. However, the judge stopped short of more broadly blocking the state from enforcing its ban on “indoctrination” in public schools. The ruling is a partial victory for the teachers, who have argued that the state’s ban is too vague and forces them to self-censor what they teach.

A coalition of Republican Senate candidates from battleground states has condemned a gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump by a New York judge. The candidates, including Dave McCormick (Pennsylvania), Eric Hovde (Wisconsin), Bernie Moreno (Ohio), Mike Rogers (Michigan), Kari Lake (Arizona), Jim Banks (Indiana), Sam Brown (Nevada), Tim Sheehy (Montana), and Jim Justice (West Virginia), argue that the order violates Trump’s First Amendment rights and poses a threat to democracy. The judge, Juan Merchan, imposed the gag order to prevent Trump from making public statements about witnesses and court staff in an ongoing trial. Trump has violated the order multiple times, resulting in a $9,000 fine.

Former President Donald Trump has been fined $9,000 for violating a gag order in the NY v. Trump case in Manhattan. The judge found that Trump violated the order on nine separate occasions, resulting in fines totaling $1,000 each. If Trump continues to violate the order, he could face “incarceratory punishment.” Trump’s attorneys argue that the gag order is a violation of his First Amendment rights, while prosecutors allege that he violated the order at least 14 times.

A bipartisan-supported bill in the California state legislature aims to deter protesters from blocking highways by doubling fines for repeat offenses. Backers of the bill, including Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, cite concerns about public safety and the hindrance of emergency responders during recent demonstrations. However, civil rights advocates argue that increased penalties will not suppress dissent and that peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment.

Legislation mandating TikTok’s sale or ban in the U.S. has been signed by President Biden, but the law faces legal challenges from the app’s owner, ByteDance, and advocacy groups like the ACLU. The law raises concerns about violating First Amendment rights, while the government cites national security risks. The outcome of the legal battle remains uncertain, with potential implications for digital media regulation in the U.S.

Bystander video shows Texas state troopers slamming a Fox News cameraman to the ground during a pro-Palestine protest at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday. The cameraman, identified as Carlos, was detained but later released. More than a dozen protesters, including an organizer, were arrested. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the arrests and threatened to expel students who participate in antisemitic protests.