The Law in the News

From Pizzagate to the 2020 Election: Forcing Liars to Pay or Apologize – New York Times – Mar. 31, 2024

Missouri Government Agency Threatening to Sue Critic for Libel – Reason – Mar. 29, 2024

Officer Disciplined Over George Floyd Post Can’t Bring Free Speech Claim – Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly – Mar. 20, 2024

“Black Lives Mat[t]er” + “Any Life” Drawing “Not Protected by the First Amendment” in First Grade – Reason – Mar. 19, 2024

Book Bans In Massachusetts: 63 Titles Challenged In 2020-2023: ALA – Patch – Mar. 18, 2024

When States Try to Take Away Americans’ Freedom of Thought – New York Times – Jan. 20, 2024

New Yorker Article Seems to Misdescribe S[upreme] C[our]t’s Decision on School Library Book Removal – Reason – Dec. 23, 2023

Employers, Employees, Professors, Students: Remember—Some States Restrict Discrimination Based on Employees’ Political Activity – Reason – Oct. 17, 2023

After Being Arrested for Speaking Out, a Texas Woman Sues to Hold Gov. Officials Accountable – Institute for Justice

“Students Sue After Michigan School District Forces Them to Remove ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Sweatshirts” – Reason – Apr. 25, 2023

Texas Will Test Whether Kennedy v. Bremerton Abrogated Engel v. Vitale, Stone v. Graham, and Wallace v. Jaffree – Reason – Apr. 24, 2023

Oklahoma Considers Nation’s First Religious Charter School – New York Times – Apr. 12, 2023

Lobstermen Sue Over Do-Not-Eat Listing – Gloucester Times – Mar. 16, 2023

NEFAC, ACLU Defend ‘Clearly Established’ Right to Publish Information on Matters of Public Concern – New England First Amendment Coalition – Mar. 7, 2023

Does the First Amendment Bar Public Schools from Removing School Library Books Based on Their Viewpoints? – Reason – Feb. 27, 2023

A Cop Sexually Assaulted Their Son. Then Child Protective Services Retaliated – The New Republic – Feb. 13, 2023

“Professor Sues University of Texas for First Amendment Violations” – Reason – Feb. 13, 2023

White Employee Suing Seattle for DEI-Based Racial Harassment, Retaliation, and Discrimination – Reason – Feb. 13, 2023

The state child welfare system needs an overhaul, not more Band-Aids – CommonWealth Magazine – Feb. 8, 2023

Marines Must Exempt Sikhs from Boot Camp Shaving Requirements – Reason – Dec. 23, 2022

Madison Square Garden Uses Facial Recognition to Ban [Plaintiffs’ Attorneys] – New York Times – Dec. 23, 2022

Defamation Suit Against Fox Grows More Contentious – New York Times – Dec. 4, 2022

Area Man Is Arrested For Parody. The Onion Files a Supreme Court Brief – New York Times – Oct. 4, 2022

Inside Massachusetts’ Family Separation Disaster – Mother Jones – Sept. 26, 2022

Supreme Court Rules Against Boston in Case on Christian Flag – New York Times – May 2, 2022

Sage Steele Suing ESPN for Violating Her Free Speech Rights: A Quick Sense of the Law – Reason – April 30, 2022

L.A. Sheriff, Accused of Cover-Up, Opens Investigation Into a Reporter – N.Y. Times – April 26, 2022

Viewpoint-Based Enforcement of “No Advertising Policy” as to Public Comments Likely Violates First Amendment – Reason – April 25, 2022

Don’t Push A Pencil Through Lemon, Slice It In Half! – Reason – April 25, 2022

Sikhs Sue Marine Corps Over Restrictions on Beards – New York Times – April 12, 2022

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard to Face Off in Defamation Trial – New York Times – April 10, 2022

California Law Requiring Board Diversity Is Struck Down – New York Times – April 3, 2022

Extra Remedies for Libel if the Libeler Chose Target Based on Race, Religion, Sex, etc? – Reason – January 31, 2022

A White hospital executive says he was fired and replaced by 2 women as part of a diversity push.  He sued and was just awarded $10 million – CNN – October 28, 2021

A.C.L.U. Is Torn Over Free Speech Mission and New Voice – N.Y. Times – June 6, 2021

ACLU Sues After Man Banned From Library Over Trump Poem – WFYI – January 28, 2021

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear First Amendment Case of Suspended Cheerleader – ABA Journal – January 11, 2021

US Supreme Court Rules Muslims Placed On No-Fly List Can Sue for Damages – Middle East Eye – December 10, 2020

Court Finds Restrictions of ‘Offensive’ California License Plates Unconstitutional – California Globe – November 24, 2020

Journalism Professors Demand Iowa State University Disband the College Republicans Over Offensive Tweet – Reason – November 20, 2020

Senate Dems Push For End To ‘Qualified Immunity’ After George Floyd Death – Fox News – June 5, 2020

A Law School That Fuels Democracy – The Chronicle of Higher Education – December 18, 2018

Miscarrying at Work: The Physical Toll of Pregnancy Discrimination – New York Times – October 22, 2018

We’re writing a new law on noncompetes – let’s get it right – Boston Globe – July 12, 2018

As More New Dads Get Paternity Leave, Companies Push Them to Take It – Wall Street Journal – July 11, 2018

150 Cheers for the 14th Amendment – New York Times – July 9, 2018

He Called Older Employees ‘Dead Wood.’ Two Sued for Age Discrimination. – New York Times – July 6, 2018

Boston Symphony Orchestra flutist sues under the newly revised Massachusetts Equal Pay Act – Boston Globe – July 6, 2018

Former DPW worker suing Brookline for racial discrimination – Brookline TAB – July 3, 2018