First Amendment

Meet Lawsuit Barbie: She’s been busy at Barbie’s courthouse

Barbie has been living in the real world for a long time. Because of the doll’s colossal success since its introduction in 1959, countless lawsuits have gone through the courts as the doll’s maker has sought to enforce its rights and protect her image.

Jul 25, 2023 9:36 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: ‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark spat resolved; Trump Organization settles with Michael Cohen

‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark abandoned Taco John’s has agreed to give up its “Taco Tuesday” trademark after Taco Bell sought its cancellation in what it described as a “liberation” campaign. Taco John’s CEO Jim Creel said in a statement “paying millions of dollars to lawyers to defend our mark just doesn’t…

Jul 21, 2023 2:35 PM CDT

With one exception, Trump-appointed appeals judges are more likely to vote in favor of religious liberty, new study says

Former President Donald Trump lived up to his promise to appoint judges favoring religious liberty, at least when the plaintiff is a Christian, according to a new study of voting records by circuit judges by three law professors.

Jul 19, 2023 9:03 AM CDT

Judge who won’t marry same-sex couples cites Supreme Court ruling for Christian web designer

A Texas justice of the peace who refuses to marry same-sex couples is citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 30 decision protecting a web designer who won’t create websites for same-sex weddings.

Jul 17, 2023 8:53 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court once again moves the law significantly to the right

In the last days of the October Term 2022, the court, in a series of 6-3 decisions, moved the law significantly to the right. But unlike the prior term, there also were some significant surprises from the conservative court.

Jul 13, 2023 1:45 PM CDT

Judge curbs US effort to battle disinformation on social media; will ruling withstand appeal?

The federal government has appealed a federal judge’s curbs on the Biden administration’s efforts to stop misinformation on social media.

Jul 6, 2023 11:58 AM CDT

Supreme Court rules for Christian businesswoman who won’t make websites for same-sex weddings

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that the First Amendment protects a web designer who refuses to create websites for same-sex weddings.

Jun 30, 2023 9:15 AM CDT

Postal worker who quit over Sunday hours gets new chance for religious-bias claim, thanks to Supreme Court

Workers seeking a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act may have an easier time in the courts as a result of a decision Thursday by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jun 29, 2023 10:30 AM CDT

SCOTUS overturns ‘true threats’ conviction, working in reference to New York Times v. Sullivan

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Tuesday that the First Amendment does not protect statements made by a defendant if they “consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communications would be viewed as threatening violence.”

Jun 27, 2023 3:04 PM CDT

SCOTUS upholds law that bans ‘encouraging or inducing’ illegal immigration

A federal law that bans “encouraging or inducing” illegal immigration does not violate the First Amendment when it is properly interpreted, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision Friday.

Jun 23, 2023 12:22 PM CDT

Company’s religious liberty trumps Title VII ban on discrimination against LGBTQ employees, appeals court says

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act entitles a Texas company to an exemption from a federal mandate that bars discrimination against LGBTQ employees, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Jun 22, 2023 3:03 PM CDT

Radio host faces hurdles in ChapGPT defamation suit

A lawsuit filed by a Georgia gun rights radio host alleges that he was defamed when OpenAI’s artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT made up fake accusations against him.

Jun 12, 2023 2:43 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Bar group that ditched drag trivia event criticized; Black law schools guide drops overall rankings

Social justice group criticizes bar drag event cancellation The nonprofit Southern Coalition for Social Justice is forwarding a letter with more than 100 signatures to a bar group that canceled a drag show trivia night, citing “political” reasons. The letter says the decision by the North Carolina Bar Association “flies…

Jun 9, 2023 3:04 PM CDT

Supreme Court gives Jack Daniel’s a chance to prove infringement in ‘Bad Spaniels’ trademark parody case

There is no “special First Amendment protection” for product parodies that use trademarks as their own trademarks, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a case involving Jack Daniel’s and the maker of a parody dog toy.

Jun 8, 2023 1:42 PM CDT

As culture wars continue, City University of New York School of Law is latest target

The City University of New York School of Law is one of many in the past year to have bad press days, or perhaps bad press weeks, following student activities involving sensitive topics.

Jun 7, 2023 11:25 AM CDT