Catholic groups sue over birth control mandate 
Published: May 21, 2012
Tags: Catholic groups, contraception, Department of Health and Human Services, First Amendment, freedom of religion, Obama administrations
WASHINGTON – In a series of lawsuits filed across the country Monday, dozens of Roman Catholic archdiocese, schools and other organizations are seeking to block the recent Health and Human Services mandate that requires most employers to cover contraception in their health care plans.
Illinois ban on recording police unenforceable 
Published: May 10, 2012
Tags: civil rights, First Amendment
Illinois prosecutors cannot enforce a state ban on individuals making nonconsensual audio recordings of police officers performing their duties because the statute probably violates the First Amendment, the 7th Circuit has ruled in reversing a dismissal.
Mayor’s employee can sue under First Amendment 
Published: April 26, 2012
Tags: civil rights, First Amendment, public concern
A mayor who prohibited one of his employees from talking to a former employee about a lawsuit she might file against the city can be sued under the First Amendment, the 6th Circuit has ruled in affirming a denial of qualified immunity.
School can suspend student for threatening drawing 
Published: March 26, 2012
Tags: civil rights, First Amendment, §1983
A public elementary school did not violate the First Amendment when it suspended a student who drew a picture that expressed a desire that the school and its teachers be blown up, the 2nd Circuit has ruled in affirming a dismissal.
New tobacco warning statute constitutional 
Published: March 23, 2012
Tags: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, First Amendment
The new federal statute requiring tobacco companies to include graphic warnings on cigarette packages does not violate the First Amendment, the 6th Circuit has ruled in affirming judgment.
Court ponders claim of Cheney’s alleged attacker 
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: March 21, 2012
Tags: First Amendment, retalation, Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court seemed disinclined on Wednesday to allow a man accused of assaulting former Vice President Dick Cheney to sue his Secret Service detail for retaliatory arrest.
News site may need to identify anonymous poster 
Published: March 14, 2012
Tags: defamation, First Amendment
A newspaper may be compelled to disclose the identity of an anonymous individual who posted an allegedly defamatory comment on its website, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled in reversing judgment.
N.Y. attorney disclaimer rule unconstitutional 
Published: March 7, 2012
Tags: First Amendment, Rules of Professional Conduct
A New York rule requiring certain disclaimers by attorneys who advertise themselves as certified specialists is unconstitutional, the 2nd Circuit has ruled in reversing judgment.
FDA can’t mandate graphic cigarette warnings 
Published: March 1, 2012
Tags: consumer protection, FDA, First Amendment, Food and Drug Administration
The First Amendment bars the enforcement of a new federal regulation requiring tobacco companies to include graphic warnings on cigarette packages, a U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia has ruled in granting a summary judgment.
Georgia assisted suicide law unconstitutional 
Published: February 8, 2012
Tags: assisted suicide, First Amendment
A state law prohibiting anyone from offering to assist another in committing suicide violates the First Amendment, the Georgia Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
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