First Amendment

First Amendment bars kosher inspector from suing Jewish nonprofit, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has found that an inspector who ensured that food products complied with Jewish dietary law cannot pursue a job-related lawsuit against the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, a nonprofit corporation that runs the country’s largest kosher certification program.

Jan 2, 2025 1:23 PM CST

New Jersey bar can reserve positions for members of underrepresented groups, appeals court says

The New Jersey State Bar Association has a First Amendment right to expressive association that would be violated if forced to change a diversity program for leadership positions, a state appeals court has ruled.

Dec 23, 2024 2:22 PM CST

Supreme Court will decide whether TikTok ban violates the First Amendment

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider the constitutionality of a law that bans TikTok in the United States if the company isn't sold.

Dec 18, 2024 2:17 PM CST

TikTok asks SCOTUS to block law that would shut down app

TikTok has asked the Supreme Court to block a federal law that would shut down the wildly popular platform in the United States next month unless the company divests from Chinese ownership.

Dec 17, 2024 11:25 AM CST

Lawyers who critique critical race theory may challenge Connecticut’s anti-bias ethics rule, 2nd Circuit says

Two lawyers who fear their comments could lead to discipline under Connecticut’s anti-bias ethics rule have standing to sue, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Dec 10, 2024 12:45 PM CST

Appeals court upholds nationwide TikTok ban-or-sale law

A Washington federal appeals court has turned away a challenge to a fast-approaching nationwide ban of short-video app TikTok unless it divests from Chinese ownership by Jan. 19, affirming the law as constitutional.

Dec 6, 2024 12:48 PM CST

Idaho can enforce ban on aid to minors who leave state for abortions, with one exception, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has blocked just one provision of Idaho’s abortion-trafficking law that bans aid to minors getting abortions.

Dec 3, 2024 10:15 AM CST

Columbia law prof facing probe over campus-protest comments says firm ‘abruptly’ dropped her as client

A Columbia Law School professor has said in an ethics complaint a law firm “abandoned” her as a client during a probe of her comments about campus protests “with no notice and no explanation."

Oct 22, 2024 3:50 PM CDT

Moms for Liberty wins constitutional challenge to school board’s comments policy

A federal appeals court has ruled for Moms for Liberty, a conservative parental rights group, in its challenge to a Florida school board policy that allows the presiding officer to interrupt meeting comments that are “personally directed,” “abusive” or “obscene.”

Oct 10, 2024 1:09 PM CDT

Law professor Jonathan Turley discusses free speech at ABA Crossroads Caucus event

In a scoop any journalist would envy, the ABA Crossroads Caucus welcomed professor Jonathan Turley to the first-ever public event to discuss his new book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage, just ahead of its planned release by Simon & Schuster. The program, held Aug. 3 at the ABA Annual Meeting, drew a broad audience, including then-ABA President Mary Smith, past ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross, numerous members of the ABA Board of Governors and at least one retired judge.

Oct 9, 2024 10:23 AM CDT

Judge’s ‘exceptional’ defiance following discipline decision is unmatched, suspension decision says

A state court judge in Philadelphia has been suspended without pay for posting political content on Facebook, even after a disciplinary decision finding that the conduct violated ethics rules.

Oct 8, 2024 12:39 PM CDT

Arkansas justices refer each other for discipline in FOIA tiff

Updated: A Freedom of Information Act request for an Arkansas justice’s emails has led to a tossed lawsuit and a spate of ethics referrals.

Oct 1, 2024 3:16 PM CDT

Judge tosses lawyer’s dueling lawsuit against Willkie partner in spat over New York Post story

A solo practitioner accused of facilitating a negative story about a BigLaw partner in the New York Post can’t sue for a declaratory judgment that his actions were protected by the First Amendment, a Connecticut judge has ruled.

Oct 1, 2024 10:54 AM CDT

Unprofessional Conduct: Free speech doesn’t cover elected official’s coarse comments, court says

A former Iowa county attorney who was elected to the prosecutorial position made crude comments at work. Reuben Neff, who was first elected as the Wapello County Attorney in 2018 and resigned in March, did not convince the Iowa Supreme Court that he had a First Amendment right to say those things.

Oct 1, 2024 2:00 AM CDT

Penn Law prof gets half-pay suspension for ‘discriminatory and disparaging statements’

A professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School will be suspended with half pay and full benefits for the 2025-2026 academic year because of her “discriminatory and disparaging statements."

Sep 25, 2024 8:51 AM CDT