First Amendment News

Hallmark wants rehearing in First Amendment case against Paris Hilton

After losing a federal court appeal ruling on August 31, Hallmark Cards is asking for a rehearing with the full court concerning a dispute with Paris Hilton over a birthday card bearing an image of Hilton’s head. -DB The National Law Journal September 23, 2009 By Amanda Bronstad Hallmark Cards Inc. has asked the full “Court of Appeals for the Hollywood Circuit” to reconsider a ruling that pits the greeting card company’s First Amendment rights

Read More »

Obama’s new policy on state secrets disappoints EFF attorney

An attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation argues that the Obama administration did not go far enough in reforming the use of the state secrets privilege. The changes will run a decision through executive layers but still allow the government to invoke the privilege to block a court case without judicial oversight. -DB Electronic Frontier Foundation Legislative Analysis September 24, 2009 By Kurt Opsahl After months of internal review, the Obama Administration today announced a new

Read More »

Federal court rules city college sexual harassment policy counter to free speech rights

The Los Angeles Community College District must stop enforcing their sexual harassment policy after a federal court ruling upholding an injunction against the policy. A court will now entertain arguments to determine if the policy is reaching too far to trample the First Amendment rights of students. -DB Student Press Law Center September 23, 2009 By Michael Edwards CALIFORNIA — A federal district court ruled last week that the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) sexual harassment

Read More »

Obama to announce new policy on state secrets

The Obama administration is expected to make it harder for the government to invoke a “state secrets” claim when asked about such activities as rendition, wiretaps and treatment of terrorist suspects. -DB The Washington Post September 23, 2009 By Carrie Johnson The Obama administration will announce a new policy Wednesday making it much more difficult for the government to claim that it is protecting state secrets when it hides details of sensitive national security strategies

Read More »

Editorial questions doctrine of corporation constitutional rights

A New York Times editorial says that the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts seems to believe that U.S. corporations are entitled to legal rights commensurate to those of U.S. citizens. The Times argues that traditionally corporation rights have been limited for various practical reasons and are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. -DB The New York Times Editorial September 22, 2009 The question at the heart of one of the biggest Supreme Court

Read More »