Federal appeals court rejects lawsuit claiming police violated rights of protestors during 2008 Republican Convention

The 8th U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals found that police had not violated protestors ‘ First And Fourth Amendments rights when they arrested 400 people at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The court cited widespread violence and vandalism in saying police were justified in conducting mass arrests to restore order. [...]

Opinion: Government use of global tracking can adversely affect free speech rights

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling next spring  in United States v. Jones involving police warrantless use of a GPS tracking device could have wide ranging effect on the rights to association and free speech, writes Gene Policinski for the First Amendment Center. “The freedom to associate with others of similar and perhaps unpopular views, and [...]

Oklahoma search and seizure case raises free speech issues

When policeman in an Oklahoma town detained a woman in a Terry stop – a brief stop for criminal activity under reasonable suspicion but not probable cause – the woman refused to answer a question then tussled with the policeman. The woman sued in federal court under the Firth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizure. [...]

Supreme Court ruling on employer montoring of e-mail messages leaves intact right of public’s right to know

While ruling that  an Ontario police department armed with a legitimate purpose had the right to inspect an officer’s text messages, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the pubic’s right to know under the California Public Records Act. The Court said that police officers should realize their writings may be subject to public viewing. -db Washington Post [...]

Biography Channel hit by federal lawsuits for airing footage of police ride-alongs

The Biography Channel is being sued in federal court by citizens that claim the company is liable for civil rights violations during police ride-along programs. The channel says media coverage of police arrests are of vital interest to the public and should be protected under the First Amendment. -db Reporters Committee for Freedom of the [...]

Courts and Congress avoid addressing legality of warrantless eavesdropping

A Wire Magazine commentary says that even after lawsuits have been filed alleging warrantless eavesdropping, the practice is continuing abetted by Congress and a passive court system. -db Wired Commentary January 29, 2010 By David Kravets The National Security Agency allegedly siphoned Americans’ communications without warrants from behind this door at an AT&T office in [...]

Puerto Rico: ACLU appeals ruling that FBI not responsible for attacking reporters

Although a federal court found the FBI agents’ attack on several journalists unconstitutional, they found that the agents could not be held responsible for their actions. -DB American Civil Liberties Union Press Release September 10, 2009 SAN JUAN, PR – The American Civil Liberties Union today filed an appeal of a federal court ruling that found [...]