Free speech: Federal judge gives ‘Sister Wives’ family okay to contest Utah’s anti-bigamy law

A federal judge ruled that the “Sister Wives family could proceed with their lawsuit challenging Utah’s anti-polygamy law. Because Utah’s Attorney General said the family would be prosecuted under the state’s bigamy law, the judge said there was a “chilling effect” on the family’s First Amendment rights. -db From The Hollywood Reporter, February 4, 2012, [...]

Wisconsin high school students demand recognition of gay club

High school students in Wisconsin are suing in federal court under the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act after school authorities voted to deny recognition to the gay-straight alliance as an official school club. The alliance has been in existence for more than 10 years. The students’ complaint read, “Those requests [for club status] [...]

U.S. Supreme Court hears Nevada case on whether recusal rules interfere with First Amendment rights

In hearing a case on recusal rules and the First Amendment, the Supreme Court seemed to doubt that conflict of interest rules could run afoul of the First Amendment. The case concerned a Sparks city council member reprimanded for casting a vote on a issue involving his campaign manager. The man’s lawyer argued that not [...]

SF public hearing tonight: Should entertainment venues be required to record IDs, photo of patrons?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco  is urging attendance at a public hearing tonight. The San Francisco Entertainment Commission is proposing to require all venues with an occupancy of over 100 people to record the faces of all patrons and employees and scan their ID’s for storage in a database which they must hand [...]

Federal judge finds no free speech restriction in hate crimes act

A Michigan federal judge ruled that Christain advocates and pastors did not suffer an infringement of their rights to free speech, religion and association under the federal law, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. -db First Amendment Center September 16, 2010 By David L. Hudson Jr. A federal judge in Michigan [...]

Supreme Court rules Christian group must admit gays under college’s anti-discrimination policies

In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the claim that the First Amendment rights of a Christian group at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law were not violated by the college’s anti-discrimination policies. The group had attempted to admit gays. -db Los Angeles Times June 28, 2010 By Carol J. Williams [...]

Supreme Court hears arguments in Christian group suit against state university law school

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case pitting a Christian Legal Society barring gay students against the law school that requires campus groups to admit all students regardless of status or beliefs. Much of the sessions dwelled on whether the university nondiscrimination policy applied evenly to all groups and was “viewpoint neutral.” -db [...]

Internet raises stakes in cases pitting public disclosure against right to privacy

In Doe v. Reed, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh the right to privacy under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech and association against the need for open government and transparency in public elections. -DB First Amendment Center Commentary January 19, 2010 By Tony Mauro WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court has agreed [...]

Court rules campaign for California’s Prop. 8 prohibiting same-sex marriage does not have to reveal memos

Citing First Amendment concerns, a federal appeals court ruled that backers of Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage do not have to give up campaign strategy documents. Prop. 8 opponents had tried to gain access to internal memos and e-mails to show that the campaign exploited prejudice against gays and lesbians. -DB San Francisco Chronicle December [...]

Supreme Court to hear case on right of Christian group on University of California campus to exclude nonbelievers

The Christian Legal Society at UC California’s Hastings College of Law requires members to share their religious views. The Supreme Court will decide if the school can require the group to open its doors to gays, lesbians and non-Christians. -DB San Francisco Chronicle December 8, 2009 By Demian Bulwa SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Supreme Court [...]

Deputy district attorney association sues Los Angeles D.A. for anti-union actions

The Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys has sued the District Attorney Steve Cooley and his staff for anti-union retaliations such as punitive transfers. Union members claimed the retaliations had been going on for nine years and violated their right, guaranteed by the First Amendment, to belong to a union . -DB Metropolitan News-Enterprise November [...]