Apr 18 Pastry painting sparks free speech debate in New Hampshire By Kathy McCormack, Robert F. Bukaty, Associated Press Where is the line between art, and advertising? The unresolved question is testing the direct democracy of a small New England town, where a painting of pastries has led to zoning dispute, a First Amendment lawsuit and a local vote. Continue reading
Mar 22 Watch 4:38 Supreme Court hears trademark case involving Jack Daniel's and dog toys By John Yang, Saher Khan The maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey has a bone to pick with the marketer of dog chew toys. The distiller of the iconic American liquor wants to muzzle VIP Products over a squeaky dog toy called Bad Spaniels. The case… Continue watching
Jun 02 Watch 7:05 Defamation trial for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard raises concerns about domestic violence A Virginia jury Wednesday ordered Amber Heard to pay her ex-husband Johnny Depp $15 million in damages in a defamation case. Depp was also ordered to pay Heard $2 million in damages. Depp sued his ex-wife for defamation in 2019… Continue watching
Jun 05 Justice Dept. says it'll no longer seize reporters' records By Eric Tucker, Associated Press The Justice Department said Saturday that it no longer will secretly obtain reporters’ records during leak investigations, a policy shift that abandons a practice decried by news organizations and press freedom groups. Continue reading
Mar 19 Stone tablet marking First Amendment freedoms finds new home By Associated Press The National Constitution Center, which sits in an area of the city billed as America's most historic square mile, will erect the tablet in an atrium overlooking Independence Hall, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where both the Declaration of Independence… Continue reading
Feb 11 WATCH: Trump not protected by First Amendment for inciting insurrection, Rep. Raskin says By Associated Press Lead House Impeachment Manager Jamie Raskin argued in the Senate trial that there is a First Amendment defense against the impeachment charge is "absurd."… Continue reading
Jan 10 EXPLAINER: Can social media companies boot Trump? Yes By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Social media companies decided this past week they had finally seen enough from President Donald Trump. Twitter ended a nearly 12-year run and shuttered his account, severing an instant line of communication to his 89 million followers. Continue reading
Jul 09 Appeals court says Trump can't block critics on Twitter By Larry Neumeister, Associated Press The federal appeals court said the First Amendment calls for more speech, rather than less, on matters of public concern. Continue reading
Jun 10 Why June could be a blockbuster month for Supreme Court decisions By Marcia Coyle Three cases are likely front-page news because of their potential as landmark decisions. Continue reading
May 21 Arizona prisons ban book on black men in the justice system By Terry Tang, Associated Press Arizona has banned prisoners from reading a book that discusses the impact of the criminal justice system on black men, drawing outcry from First Amendment advocates who say the move is censorship. Continue reading