The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 that a Colorado website designer has a free speech right to refuse to create websites for same-sex weddings. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a 38-page dissent, arguing that the ruling was "profoundly wrong" and would lead to more discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Civil rights groups have also criticized the ruling, which they argue will have a negative impact on the rights of LGBTQ people.
Posts tagged as “the Constitution’s First Amendment”
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of an evangelical Christian web designer from Colorado, allowing her to refuse to work on same-sex weddings due to her free speech rights under the First Amendment. This ruling could allow other business owners to evade punishment under laws in 29 states that protect LGBTQ rights in public accommodations. The case began in 2012 when Smith refused to design a website for a same-sex couple’s wedding, arguing that the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act violated her First Amendment rights.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Billy Counterman, who was convicted of making "true threats" to a local musician on Facebook. The court raised the bar for establishing when a statement is a "true threat" not protected by the First Amendment, making it more difficult for prosecutors to prove that a statement is a true threat. The ruling is seen as a victory for free speech advocates, and is expected to have a major impact on how prosecutors handle cases involving threats made on social media.