The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is seeking the help of the Florida Supreme Court in deciding when protests turn into rioting under the Combating Public Disorder Act. The appeals court wants some clarification before deciding if the law violates the First Amendment. (Miami New Times, January 11, 2023, by Naomi Feinstein) Backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the law stimulated that a person is guilty of rioting if one “willfully participates in a

Three Michigan Electoral College voters sued electors pretending to be official. The true electors maintained in the suit that they were caused stress and anguish “by having their legitimacy questioned and “their integrity falsely and publicly denigrated.” (MLive, January 13, 2023, by Ben Orner) The lawsuit further alleged that the defendants violated Michigan law attempting obstruction of electors in exercising their duties and committed election law forgery. The electors seek $25,000 in damages. (Michigan Advance,

Pennsylvania’s Exeter Township halted proceedings against reporter Jerry Geleff a month after a county court granted them an order blocking the reporter from writing about an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against a town official. The RCFP intervened to challenge the court order. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, January 12, 2023) For related FAC coverage, click here, here and here.