Author: David L. Hudson Jr.

Federal Appeals Court Grants Qualified Immunity to University Officials, Denies Medical Student’s First Amendment Claim for Punishment Over Social Media Post

A previous U.S. Supreme Court’s qualified immunity decision, continues to do significant damage in First Amendment jurisprudence. In this case, regards to punishing a university student for an off-campus Facebook post.
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Part of prisoner’s lawsuit over restrictive mail policy allowed to proceed

In an Arkansas inmate’s lawsuit, he alleges that the three page mail restriction violates the First Amendment.
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Federal Judge Rules Georgia Sheriff Violated the First Amendment by Posting Signs in Sex Offenders’ Yards

A federal district court has ruled that a Georgia sheriff violated the First Amendment by posting signs in front of sex offenders’ homes for kids not to trick-or-treat there.
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Former Sex Offenders Can Proceed with Lawsuit Challenging Restrictions on Internet Use

A group of former sex offenders may continue with their lawsuit, challenging the constitutionality of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC’s) restrictive policy on internet access for those convicted of sex crimes.
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Colorado High Court Affirms Dismissal of Jury-Tampering Charges Against Men Who Advocated for Jury Nullification

A Colorado court rule that two men who handed out brochures on jury nullification at the courthouse did not violate Colorado’s jury tampering statute.
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Federal Judge Allows Jailhouse Lawyer’s Retaliation Claim to Proceed

Prisoners retain First Amendment free-speech rights even behind bars.
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School Officials Need a First Amendment Lesson

Students have a First Amendment right not to recite the school pledge as a form of peaceful protest, but not all schools honor that.
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Federal Judge Rules Middle School Officials Could Punish Student for Writing ‘Trump 2016’ on Whiteboard

The district court emphasized that the punishment did not relate to any particular political viewpoint.
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California Appeals Court Upholds Law Prohibiting False Reports of Bombs or Explosive Devices

A California statute prohibiting persons from making a false report about a bomb or other explosive device does not violate the First Amendment, a state appeals court has ruled.
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John Paul Stevens Had ‘Indelible” Commitment to First Amendment

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who served nearly 35 years on the court, left an indelible mark on many areas of First Amendment jurisprudence. 
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