By: Athina Hinson-Boyte Just Mercy In December, the film adaptation of Bryan Stevenson’s book, Just Mercy was released in theaters. It tells the true story of Walter McMillian, a young black man who was sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. The book shows the injustices and racism of the criminal system … Continue reading Book Bans: First Amendment Violation of Prisoners
By: Alison J. Rossi Early in summer of 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously ruled that a North Carolina law that banned convicted sex offenders from accessing or using social media websites was unconstitutional. In Packinham v. North Carolina, the Court ruled North Carolina’s law violated the First Amendment. This case has … Continue reading Packingham v. North Carolina: Court Protects Sex Offenders First Amendment Rights to the Internet.
Happy Wintry Monday! Hope all that are affected by the snow are safe and warm!! Here is the latest First Amendment news to check out while you sip your hot cocoa! Lawyers for WikiLeaks asked a federal judge on Friday, December 7th, to dismiss a Democratic National Committee lawsuit over the anti-secrecy group's publication of party data … Continue reading NEWSFLASH!!
By Daniel J. Root The case and the controversy Last June, the Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31 overturned a forty-one-year-old precedent. At issue was whether public employees who are not union members can be required to pay union dues. Under Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, non-union members could be required to … Continue reading Not Peace, but a Sword: Janus and the weaponizing of free speech
The Supreme Court recently held in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31that a state law requiring non-union workers to subsidize public union activities violates the free speech rights of non-members by forcing them to subsidize private speech regarding matters of public concern. Despite the obvious, this decision does not have to be a disaster for public … Continue reading A More Perfect Union? The Future of Public Unions in the Wake of Janus. By Brandon Mayes
First Amendment Law Review 