{"id":1493,"date":"2017-10-15T11:00:06","date_gmt":"2017-10-15T15:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journals.law.unc.edu\/firstamendmentlawreview\/?p=1493"},"modified":"2017-10-15T11:00:06","modified_gmt":"2017-10-15T15:00:06","slug":"first-amendment-newsflash-102-1015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journals.law.unc.edu\/firstamendmentlawreview\/first-amendment-newsflash-102-1015\/","title":{"rendered":"First Amendment Newsflash 10\/2-10\/15"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to First Amendment Newsflash, the First Amendment Law Review\u2019s bi-weekly roundup of the latest in free expression and religious freedom news and commentary. Check here every other Sunday for a new edition! Need First Amendment news in the meantime? Follow FALR on\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/a>\u00a0for regular updates.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Photo credit: Courtesy of howtostartablogonline.net<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Supreme Court is back in session! Stay tuned!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Court News<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A Texas high school senior is suing the Cy-Fair school district<\/a> after claiming she was suspended from school for not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and a coalition of 20 media organizations filed an amicus brief asking the 9th<\/sup> Circuit to rehear a case<\/a>, after the 9th<\/sup> Circuit allowed the government to prohibit wire or electronic communication service providers, like social media companies, from disclosing information about National Security Letters they receive requesting information about subscribers.<\/p>\n

A federal judge ruled that the local transit authority violated the First Amendment<\/a> when it refused to allow the union representing bus drivers to buy advertisements on buses in Spokane, Washington.<\/p>\n

A federal judge ruled that an income tax exemption for housing for members of the clergy violates the First Amendment<\/a>\u00a0Establishment Clause because it benefits religious leaders and no one else.<\/p>\n

A Texas judge ordered a former lawyer to pay a local media company\u2019s legal fees arising from a defamation lawsuit<\/a> under provisions of a state law enacted to protect First Amendment rights by discouraging frivolous lawsuits.<\/p>\n

In newly filed lawsuits on behalf of the city of Charlottesville, local businesses and neighborhood associations accuse the organizers of the August \u201cUnite the Right\u201d rally, as well as private militia groups and their leaders, of violating Virginia law by organizing and acting as paramilitary units.<\/a><\/p>\n

Two federal district courts ruled that the First Amendment does not allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent manufacturers from providing truthful information<\/a> about their products to doctors.<\/p>\n

The California Attorney General, the Washington Attorney General<\/a>, and the ACLU filed suits alleging that the Trump administration\u2019s rules widening the range of employers and insurers that can invoke religious or moral beliefs to avoid the Affordable Care Act requirement that contraceptives be covered by insurance violates the First Amendment by favoring certain religious views<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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A D.C. Superior Court judge allowed California Internet firm to redact user-identifying data from an anti-Trump website<\/a> in information it provides to federal prosecutors as part of the investigation into Inauguration Day riots.<\/p>\n

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit<\/a> challenging Baltimore\u2019s policy of prohibiting alleged victims of police brutality from disparaging police after they receive cash settlements as violating the alleged victims\u2019 First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n

A Charlottesville judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit<\/a> challenging the city\u2019s move to take down a statute of Gen. Robert E. Lee.<\/p>\n

An Arkansas judge, who was barred from considering any execution-related cases<\/a> after blocking the use of a lethal injection drug and participating in an anti-death penalty demonstration, filed a lawsuit in federal court against seven members of the Arkansas Supreme Court saying the justices violated his First Amendment right.<\/p>\n

Georgia\u2019s highest court reversed the conviction<\/a> of a man who was arrested for disorderly conduct after holding up his middle finger and shouting at his pastor during a church service.<\/p>\n

The First Liberty Institute, representing a North Carolina County Board of Commissioners, filed papers asking the Supreme Court<\/a> to review a ruling barring the Commissioners from opening its meetings with Christian prayers.<\/p>\n

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Federal Executive News<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

President Trump threatened NBC\u2019s broadcast license<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter because he is unhappy with how its news division is covering his presidency.<\/p>\n

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State and Local Legislative News<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

An Indiana state lawmaker, angered by talks of gun control, has drafted a measure to require licenses for journalists<\/a> similar to those required for handgun owners. The measure would require journalists to be registered, fingerprinted, and vetted for their \u201ccharacter and reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n

A St. Louis lawmaker submitted a proposal<\/a> to repeal an existing ordinance on unlawful assemblies and limit the way police may respond to protests.<\/p>\n

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Other News and Commentary<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Civil rights organizations argue that a Louisiana high school is violating its students\u2019 First Amendment rights<\/a> by ordering athletes to stand during the national anthem.<\/p>\n

The University of Wisconsin System leaders approved a policy<\/a> that calls for suspending or expelling students who disrupt campus speeches and presentations.<\/p>\n

The University of Florida released a statement<\/a> confirming a speaking event featuring white nationalist Richard Spencer on Oct. 19.<\/p>\n

A new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)<\/a> found that a majority of students on college campuses self-censor in class, support disinviting some guest speakers with whom they disagree, and don\u2019t know that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment.<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s it for your First Amendment Newsflash Oct. 2-Oct. 15. See you again on Oct. 29!\u00a0<\/i>In the meantime, don\u2019t forget to secure your\u00a0<\/i>ticket<\/i><\/a>\u00a0to our annual\u00a0<\/i>symposium<\/i><\/a>: Distorting the Truth: \u201cFake News\u201d and Free Speech! Tickets are going FAST<\/strong>, and we’ve already sold out of a few options. But don’t fret! We still have:<\/i><\/p>\n