Montana has become the first state to ban the popular video sharing app TikTok, with Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signing the bill into law on May 17th. Five TikTok content creators have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban, arguing it is an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also criticized the ban, arguing it will trample on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans. The legal challenge to the ban is ongoing, with the ban set to take effect in January 2024.
Posts tagged as “First Amendment”
Key takeaways: Justice Robert R. Reed of the New York Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s claims against The New York Times and its journalists for…
Montana judge rules against Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a transgender lawmaker, in her attempt to return to the statehouse House floor after being silenced and banished for admonishing Republican lawmakers. Zephyr's attorneys argued that her First Amendment rights were violated, but the judge ruled that the House of Representatives had the authority to control its proceedings. Zephyr has vowed to continue to fight for her rights and the rights of other transgender individuals in the state.
Montana Representative Zooey Zephyr has been at the center of a standoff in the state legislature for the past two weeks, after making remarks about legislation that members of the transgender community consider matters of life and death. Supporters of Zephyr have gathered outside the statehouse and argued that the gag order imposed on her is an infringement of her First Amendment rights, while the legislature has yet to comment on the situation. The controversy has sparked a national debate over the rights of transgender individuals and the power of the legislature to silence dissenting voices, with no resolution in sight.
Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis has appointed a special master to investigate Fox News' handling of court-ordered discovery in a defamation lawsuit brought against the network by Dominion Voting Systems. The lawsuit alleges Fox News promoted false claims about Dominion's voting machines rigging the 2020 election, and the trial began Tuesday morning. This is the first major defamation case against a media company to go to trial since the Supreme Court ruled in 1964, and is expected to be closely watched by media companies and First Amendment advocates.
Fox News is facing a major legal battle as the defamation trial of Dominion Voting Systems against the network is set to begin on Monday. The lawsuit alleges that Fox News spread false information about the 2020 presidential election and the tech company’s role in it, and is seeking damages. The trial is expected to include sworn testimony from Rupert Murdoch and other high-ranking executives and on-air talent, and could have a significant impact on the future of Fox News. Lee Levine, a retired First Amendment lawyer, said the case was the strongest he'd ever seen in terms of evidence.
Tennessee State House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic members, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, for their participation in anti-gun violence protests following a school massacre in Nashville. The vote sparked outcry from the representatives and their supporters, who argued that the expulsion was a violation of their First Amendment rights. Protesters have since returned to the Capitol to advocate for gun reform measures and to denounce the ousting of the two representatives. The outcome of the protests and the response from the House of Representatives will be closely watched.
Hunter Biden's lawyers have called for a criminal investigation into a number of right-wing political figures, including Rudy Giuliani, for allegedly accessing and disseminating personal data from a laptop left at a Delaware computer repair shop in 2019. The letters sent to the Delaware attorney general and the Justice Department allege that the individuals involved committed computer and other criminal violations to use the laptop contents against President Joe Biden. The Delaware attorney general's office has confirmed receipt of the letter and is reviewing it, though it is unclear if any criminal charges will be brought against the individuals involved.