Outside the Beltway

Authorities are being second-guessed over their handling of Saturday’s protests. Virginia gun laws are the more obvious problem.

A Federal Judge has ruled against an elected official who blocked a constituent from accessing her Facebook page.

Twitter users who have been blocked on the service by President Trump are suing him, claiming that their First Amendment rights have been violated.

Sarah Palin has filed a defamation suit against The New York Times alleging defamation in an Editorial linking her to the January 2011 shooting of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. From the facts alleged, she appears to have a good case.

In light of a recent Supreme Court decision, the Federal Government is ending its defense of an effort to revoke the trademarks of the Washington Redskins.

The Supreme Court ruled today that states may not exclude church-run schools from an aid program with a wholly secular purpose.

The Supreme Court rules that states cannot bar convicted felons from using social media sites.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Federal Government cannot deny trademark protection because a requested trademark is “disparaging” to a racial or ethnic group.

If Donald Trump blocks you on Twitter does that constitute a First Amendment violation? Two Twitter users say yes, but their argument is very weak.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument yesterday in a case dealing with whether Missouri can deny a religious school from participating in a program to make school playgrounds safer.

Milo Yiannopoulos was a troll and a peddler in offensiveness, but the fact that he became a star on the American right was the result of a transformation of American conservatism that has been entirely unhealthy.

A majority of the Supreme Court appears to be skeptical of a Federal law barring trademark protection for “offensive” names and slogans.

Mississippi tried to provide special protection to opponents of same-sex marriage and transgender rights. A Federal District Court Judge, properly, finds the law to be unconstitutional.

Donald Trump’s open contempt for the Rule of Law and Freedom of the Press should disqualify him from being considered an acceptable candidate for President.

After oral argument today in a high profile case, it appears likely that public employee unions are likely to suffer a major legal defeat later this year.

A ruling in an unrelated case raises serious doubts about the law used to revoke the Washington Redskins trademarks because they are allegedly ‘disparaging.’

A Federal Appeals Court has upheld a 1949 law that bars protesters from the property around the Supreme Court building. This seems inconsistent with the Court’s recent First Amendment jurisprudence.

Wherein I take the view that as our understanding of language changes, so too does our application of the Constiution.

The US Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that the U.S. Constitution contains a right to same-sex marriage.

The Supreme Court ruled that states don’t have to grant license plates that display the Confederate flag. Their decision has the potential to seriously harm the First Amendment.

The agency that runs Washington D.C.’s mass transit has banned all political ads after Pamela Gellar attempted to run an advertisement featuring a drawing of Mohammed.

The Supreme Court has narrowed the means by which Federal prosecutors can prosecute someone for making statements online that could be perceived as threats.

Hillary Clinton told supporters she’d require Supreme Court nominees to pledge to overturn Citizens United, a decision she completely misrepresented.

In a marked departure from recent cases, the Supreme Court rules that states can impose significant restriction on solicitation of campaign contributions in judicial elections.

We’re down to debating whether bigots should have to sell cakes to gay people.

The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of three students disciplined for wearing American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo

Sony is warning the press not to publish material leaked by hackers, but it doesn’t have much of a legal leg to stand on.

The Justice Department won’t force James Risen to testify in a legal investigation, but faces a new choice in a different case.

The Supreme Court is set to decide if the state can deny a license plate with the Confederate flag design because it is “offensive.”

Michael Brown’s stepfather made incendiary comments in the wake of the Grand Jury announcement, but they do not amount to a crime.

The Justices of the Supreme Court seemed to struggle yesterday to find an easy way to draw a line between protected speech and the kind of threats that are not protected by the First Amendment.

The City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho will not force two Christian ministers to open their wedding chapel business to same-sex wedding ceremonies.

A collision between marriage equality and religious liberty, but it seems clear that religious liberty should win this one.

The Roberts court has been very good on First Amendment issues, but it needs to address the First Amendment issue right outside its front windows.

Much of the criticism of Hobby Lobby, and Citizens United before it, is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what those decisions stand for.

Hobby Lobby wins, but it’s unclear just how far this opinion will go.

Another solid victory for the First Amendment from the Roberts Court.

The First Amendment protects government employees who testify truthfully.

Next term, the Supreme Court will try to decide when online speech crosses the line and becomes a criminal threat.

A hopeful First Amendment decision from the Supreme Court.

One of the longest serving Members of Congress just got his political career saved.

A pretty clear violation of the First Amendment.

One Virginia county wants to regulate how many people you can have in your home for a visit.

A bizarre case in Alabama highlights a more bizarre judicial precedent.

Someone needs to give the Mayor of Warren, Michigan a lesson on what the First Amendment means.

Once again, the Supreme Court reminds us that limiting political speech is unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court turns down a case dealing with student’s First Amendment rights.

The Justice Department is reportedly not planning to prosecute Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in connection with the Bradley Manning case.

The Supreme Court heard argument in a major campaign finance case yesterday.

An employer has scored a major victory in its fight against Obamacare’s contraceptive coverage mandate.