First Amendment

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Wikileaks Judge Reverses His Own Injunction

In 'oops!' moment, jurist says original ruling was likely unconstitutional

(Newser) - The judge who (tried to) shut down Wikileaks by issuing an injunction against the whistleblowing site has changed his mind and lifted the order, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Judge Jeffrey White said his original order, designed to protect a Swiss Bank's information, raised "serious questions of prior restraint...

Wikileaks.org Closing Doesn't Secure Bank's Client Info

Privacy groups file to intervene in case

(Newser) - Legal action resulting in the closing of whistleblower site Wikileaks.org has backfired for the Swiss bank that sought to protect confidential information about their clients, the AP reports. Popular outrage over the closing of the site over its posting of documents from Bank Julius Baer has cause the widespread...

Outcry Over Leak Site Closure Order
Outcry Over Leak Site Closure Order
Feb 20, 2008 1:04 PM CST

Outcry Over Leak Site Closure Order

Privacy, 1st Amendment advocates fume over judge's decision

(Newser) - Privacy and First Amendment advocates are fuming after a judge ordered an entire website shut down in response to a lawsuit. Wikileaks.org had allowed whistleblowers to anonymously post confidential documents, reports ComputerWorld. A critic calls closing down the whole website in response to a Swiss bank's complaint "like...

Cheney Resists Testifying in 'Attack' Lawsuit

Alleged attacker wants veep to clear up encounter in court

(Newser) - A man collared on suspicion of assaulting Dick Cheney two years ago wants the veep to testify in court—but is it likely? Cheney would only have to if his testimony is unobtainable by other means, one expert said—exactly what Cheney's lawyer argued last week in court. But one...

ABC Faces Hefty FCC Fine for Bare Bottom

Stiff penalty a sign that group is reviving its anti-indecency crusade

(Newser) - The airing of a woman’s bare bottom almost five years ago could cost ABC $1.43 million, if the FCC gets its way. The media watchdog levied the maximum penalty last night against the Disney-owned broadcaster for a 2003 episode of NYPD Blue. The stiff penalty is a sign...

Facebook Court Defeat May Presage a Fall
Facebook Court Defeat May Presage a Fall
OPINION
Dec 2, 2007 1:38 PM CST

Facebook Court Defeat May Presage a Fall

Zuckerberg's attempted censorship 'a major fumble', says columnist

(Newser) - Facebook has been handed a defeat in its attempts to censor the independent Harvard alumni magazine 02138, which published confidential court documents relating to founder Mark Zuckerberg's earlier work for a rival site. That's a good thing, says Kara Swisher of the Wall Street Journal, for whom the attempted injunction...

Anti-Gay Church Ordered to Pay Dead Marine's Family $11M

Jury says protests violate privacy

(Newser) - A fundamentalist Kansas church has been ordered to pay $11 million to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq after a jury decided that anti-gay church protesters violated the family's privacy. Members of Westboro Baptist Church routinely wave anti-gay posters at soldiers' funerals because they claim the war is...

Rudy Would Outdo W on Power Grab
Rudy Would Outdo W on
Power Grab
Oct 30, 2007 12:51 PM CDT

Rudy Would Outdo W on Power Grab

Record shows Hizzoner had little patience for checks and balances

(Newser) - Rudy Giuliani’s record in New York shows a leadership philosophy built on overlooking rules, says Washington Monthly’s Rachel Morris. Should the GOP frontrunner end up in the Oval Office, he would seize even more executive power than his assertive predecessor, Morris predicts.

AT&T Backs Off Controversial Service Terms

Telecom's ToS had forbidden customers from criticizing it

(Newser) - Under an ironic firestorm of criticism for what some termed a First Amendment violation, AT&T has updated its controversial Terms of Service policy to allow users to criticize the telecom giant. The original terms stated that it reserved the right to cancel the account of those who "damaged...

Prisoners Sue Over Religious Book Limits

In the wake of post-9/11 crackdown, First Amendment concerns arise

(Newser) - The removal of  hundreds of thousands of  religious books  from federal prison libraries is drawing fire—not just from inmates, but from chaplains and other religious leaders. In the wake of 9/11, the Bureau of Prisons issued an approved list of religious books for institutions it controls, the Times reports,...

Letting It All Hang Out? Bill Would Put It All Back In

Atlanta proposal calls saggy pants "major concern;" ACLU claims "racial profiling"

(Newser) - Young men will want to hike up their sagging pants, and women cover up bra straps and exposed thongs if Atlanta’s City Council adopts a proposal to amend the city’s indecency laws, the Journal-Constitution reports. The measure, which would fine violators for exposing boxer shorts, thongs and bras,...

How to Shut Protesters Up: A White House Guidebook

ACLU lawsuit forces release of manual

(Newser) - A lawsuit sparked by two protesters wearing anti-Bush T-shirts has forced the White House to reveal its guidebook on dealing with dissenters, the Washington Post reports. The manual calls for a "protest area" separate from event sites and roaming "rally squads" to drown out demonstrators who infiltrate the...

Feds to Porn Stars: What's Your Sign?

DoJ wants records of birthdates to keep minors out of skin flicks

(Newser) - The Justice Department wants to catalog America's porn collection, but not for the reason you might think—the feds say they're making sure minors aren't finding their way onto adult-film sets. The anti-exploitation move would require producers to turn over actors' real names, stage names, and birthdates, the New York ...

Food Critic Grilled Over Steak Review

Steamed chef may force Philly writer to reveal identity in court

(Newser) - A miffed chef is suing the restaurant critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer after he reviewed a $15 slab of steak as "miserably tough and fatty." But the suit could be even more of a raw deal than expected for writer Craig LaBan, who was ordered to give a...

Supremes Let Up on Political Ad Limits

in 5-4 reversal, court rules 'issue ads' don't count as endorsements

(Newser) - Conservatives on the Supreme Court weakened one of the major strictures of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Law today, relaxing the definition of prohibited ads in the run-up to federal elections. An increasingly familiar 5-4 majority declared that "issue ads," which stump for political platforms without explicitly endorsing a...

Court Limits Student Speech
Court Limits Student Speech
Jun 25, 2007 10:41 AM CDT

Court Limits Student Speech

High Court decides 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' case in favor of buzz-kill principal

(Newser) - Schools may limit student speech that advocates criminal activity, even off campus, the Supreme Court ruled today. The case centers on a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" displayed across the street from a school; writing for the 5-4 majority, Chief Justice Roberts said the school principal's understanding of...

Pacino, Ono Push for Dead Celeb Bill

NY law would bar unauthorized bobble heads for 70 years

(Newser) - Actor Al Pacino and Yoko Ono are lobbying the New York legislature to make it a misdemeanor to merchandise unauthorized images of dead celebrities for up to 70 years after their death. The use of sound recordings, or faces and names on anything from T-shirts to bobble heads would require...

NCAA Ejects Louisville Blogger
NCAA Ejects
Louisville Blogger
Jun 12, 2007 4:22 AM CDT

NCAA Ejects Louisville Blogger

Reporter violated policy against live coverage at college semifinals

(Newser) - The NCAA ejected a reporter for Louisville's Courier-Journal for blogging during the fifth inning of Louisville's semifinal romp over Oklahoma State, 20-2. The association forbids live Internet updates of games from those in attendance. The newspaper, citing First Amendment rights, is considering legal action.

Bong Case 4 SCOTUS
Bong Case
4 SCOTUS
Mar 20, 2007 10:51 AM CDT

Bong Case 4 SCOTUS

A Supreme Court case weighs student's right to "glorify" drug use

(Newser) - A student glorifying illegal drug use shouldn't be protected by the First Amendment, Ken Starr argued before the Supreme Court yesterday in the case of a high school student suspended for displaying a banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during the Winter Olympics Torch Relay in Juneau, Alaska in...

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