Florida is expected to file a petition to the Supreme Court to take up a Florida law that prevents social media companies from removing politicians from their platforms. The case is now in federal courts in Florida. (Tampa Bay Times, June 20, 2022, by Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida) For related FAC coverage, click here, here and here.
In the wake of the mass shooting of school children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, authorities are using the “Dead Suspect Loophole” to prevent access to public records in search of the truth about police conduct. The suspect died in police custody so the police can claim that a criminal case is pending and deny access. Faced with stonewalling on the investigation, public trust is in jeopardy. (Houston Public Media, June 14, 2022, by David
Two high school teachers, a professor and a kindergartner filed a federal lawsuit to prevent Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s Stop Woke Act from taking effect July 1. According to the lawsuit, the act would allow the state to prohibit certain speech and provides only vague standards that can be used to silence speech on political topics. DeSantis says he wants to prevent indoctrination in Florida. To that end he has already passed a law that
Rudy Guiliani filed a counter suit against Smartmatic to pay his legal fees in a $12.7 billion lawsuit the company brought against him for false claims over the rigging of the 2020 presidential election. Guiliani claims the Smartmatic litigation blocks his right to speak out on matters of public interest. (U.S.News & World Report, June 14, 2022, by Jonathan Stempel of Reuters) Giuliani argues since a New York state judge dismissed some of Smartmatic’s claims
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) adopted new rules in dealing with journalists that require approval before arresting journalists and issuing subpoenas for their records. The new policies would allow reporters to cooperate voluntarily before using “compulsory tools.” (The Washington Times, June 14, 2022, by Stephen Dinan) Reporters would be notified in advance if a subpoena, court order or search warrant were in the works, and these tools would only be applied when there