A federal judge has ruled that a Texas law that would have restricted drag performances is unconstitutional, in violation of the First Amendment. The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, did not specifically cite drag performances, but LGBTQ advocates feared it was intended to criminalize the art form. The ruling has been celebrated by LGBTQ advocates, who argued that the law would have had a chilling effect on drag performances and other forms of expression. Judge Hittner concluded that the law would have wrapped up a large amount of constitutionally protected conduct in its enforcement.
Posts tagged as “the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment”
The Marion Police Department has come under fire for raiding the offices of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher and owner, Eric Meyer. Meyer has accused the police of causing enough stress to his 98-year-old mother, Joan, to cause her death. Press freedom watchdogs and civil rights organizations have called for an investigation into the raid, which they deem a violation of the First Amendment. The outcome of the investigation is yet to be seen.
Former President Donald Trump's $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN has been dismissed by U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, who was appointed by Trump himself. The lawsuit was in response to CNN's use of the phrase "the Big Lie" when referring to Trump's false claims about the 2020 election, which Trump claimed likened him to Adolf Hitler. Judge Singhal ruled that the references were opinion and not factual statements, and thus did not amount to defamation. The dismissal of the lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal setbacks for Trump, who has vowed to continue to fight for his legal rights.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Arkansas from enforcing a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" or "obscene" materials to minors. The law, passed in April, would have allowed parents and guardians to file complaints with the Arkansas Department of Education if they believed library materials were harmful to minors. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas challenged the law, arguing it was an unconstitutional infringement on free speech, and the court issued a preliminary injunction in response.
A federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump has denied the Justice Department's request to pause a sweeping ruling preventing many government entities from flagging social media misinformation to the platforms. The ruling prevents top Biden administration officials and several agencies from contacting social media companies, and Judge Doughty stated that those being "censored" suffered far a greater injury than the government. The Justice Department argued that the injunction was too broad, but Judge Doughty rejected this claim, saying that the injunction was narrowly tailored to protect the First Amendment rights of the citizens of Missouri and Louisiana.
Mike Pence made a surprise visit to Ukraine last week to signal his commitment to a more traditional foreign policy, and voiced his support for the Supreme Court's ruling in the 303 Creative v. Elenis case, which protects a designer from creating speech that she does not believe. His visit and support of the ruling are seen as important markers for his potential 2024 presidential campaign, and draw a sharp contrast between him and former President Donald Trump's more isolationist direction.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of a Colorado graphic artist, granting her the right to refuse service to same-sex couples due to her religious beliefs. The ruling expands the rights of those who want to discriminate against same-sex couples and is a major victory for religious freedom. Dueling protestors outside the court argued the First Amendment protects the artist's right to express her religious beliefs, while opponents argued it does not protect discrimination.
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.