Jun 01 High court throws out conviction of man who made threatening Facebook rants By Sam Hananel, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday threw out the conviction of a Pennsylvania man prosecuted for making threats on Facebook, but dodged the free-speech issues that had made the case intriguing to First Amendment advocates. Continue reading
Mar 23 Watch 6:32 How the First Amendment affects your specialty license plate By PBS News Hour Does the state of Texas have the right to issue specialty license plates featuring a Confederate flag? Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal fills in Gwen Ifill on the case being argued at the Supreme Court, as well as… Continue watching
Jan 20 Watch 5:58 Case on judges’ campaign fundraising divides Supreme Court By PBS News Hour The Supreme Court heard a case that could unravel state laws on judicial candidates asking for campaign donations. Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal joins Judy Woodruff to explain the arguments in the Florida case, take a look at… Continue watching
Dec 01 Should threatening speech be protected on Facebook? By Sam Hananel, Associated Press The justices will hear arguments Monday in the case of a man who was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for posting graphically violent rap lyrics on Facebook about killing his estranged wife, shooting up a kindergarten class and… Continue reading
Aug 09 Watch Art or evidence? After appeal, court rules violent rap lyrics not a confession By PBS News Hour In a ruling that could have national implications, the New Jersey State Supreme Court unanimously agreed that Vonte Skinner's rap lyrics should not have been admitted at a murder trial, ruling that those graphic lyrics weren't sufficient evidence to prove… Continue watching
Aug 09 New Jersey court strikes down murder conviction based on violent rap lyrics By Saskia de Melker, William Brangham This week, the New Jersey State Supreme Court overturned, by a vote of 6-0, the attempted murder conviction of an aspiring rapper and small-time drug dealer named Vonte Skinner, arguing that the extensive reading of Skinner’s violent rap lyrics during… Continue reading
Jun 29 Rapper appeals verdict after lyrics used to sway jury By Saskia de Melker, William Brangham The case against Vonte Skinner hinged primarily on two eyewitnesses, though their stories had changed several times. Near the end of the trial, the prosecution introduced 13 pages of violent rap lyrics to demonstrate Skinner’s motive and intent to commit… Continue reading
Jun 26 Watch Justices rein in presidential appointment powers and rule out abortion clinic buffer zones By PBS News Hour Continue watching
May 05 Watch Supreme Court upholds right to pray at town meetings By PBS News Hour In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that local governments have the right to open town meetings with prayer — even if the prayer is explicitly of one denomination. Gwen Ifill gets an overview of the case from… Continue watching
May 05 Supreme Court decision allows prayer at government meetings By Associated Press The court said in 5-4 decision Monday that the content of the prayers is not critical as long as officials make a good-faith effort at inclusion. Continue reading