fighting words
Ohio Appeals Court Affirms Disorderly Conduct Conviction for Man Who Uttered Profane and Sexual Insults at Police Officer
A former sheriff’s department employee who was convicted of disorderly conduct for his vile language directed at another officer at a gas station lost his appeal before an Ohio appeals
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‘Freedom’ is best response to white supremacy hatemongers
Attempts to censor neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups is a betrayal of our nation’s core principles — not to mention ineffective and counterproductive.
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Connecticut High Court Reverses Woman’s Conviction for Profanity Uttered at Store
A Connecticut woman who uttered a slew of profanity at a store manager during a customer service dispute had her conviction reversed by the state high court. The Connecticut Supreme Court explained
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‘Fighting Words’ Doctrine Active, says Minnesota Appeals Court
Don’t expect the First Amendment to protect you from disorderly conduct charges if you curse store employees in front of other customers.
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Ohio court: Girl’s curses at cops were fighting words
A juvenile who cursed out several police officers committed the crime of disorderly conduct, an Ohio appeals court has ruled. The appeals court said the girl’s intemperate language constituted unprotected
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Kansas appeals court: Man’s curses at ex-wife were fighting words
A Kansas man’s curses at his ex-wife weren’t just profane, they were fighting words. A state appeals court has found that Kenneth Meadors’ verbal tirade consisted of unprotected fighting words rather than
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Her cop-cussing ruled fighting words, not free speech
An Ohio woman who repeatedly cursed at the police after they arrested her son committed disorderly conduct and had no First Amendment free-speech defense, an Ohio appeals court ruled recently.
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40 years ago, a ruling that still rings today
On June 7, 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that has reverberated in free-speech law for 40 years.
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North Dakota high court finds slur constitutes fighting words
Emphasizing the context of the speech and accompanying conduct, the North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that a teen’s racial slur constituted unprotected fighting words and not protected speech. The
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Courts frown on teens’ use of fighting words
Recent court decisions in Arizona and North Dakota demonstrate that kids can face criminal charges and convictions when they utter “fighting words.” Appellate courts in both states affirmed juvenile court
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