First Amendment

A federal lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration violated the First Amendment. The suit accuses the administration of selling special advance access to posts from Truth Social before those posts are made public.

A federal lawsuit claims that selling special advance access to Truth Social posts constitutes a violation of the First Amendment. The legal action accuses the Trump administration of this practice regarding content before it is publicly released.

A federal lawsuit was filed accusing the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment. The suit alleges that the administration sold special advance access to posts on Truth Social before those posts were made public.

A federal lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment after selling special advance access to Truth Social posts before they go public. The legal action pertains to the act of offering early access to content on Truth Social.

Carolina Molina spoke out after a confrontation in Northern Virginia, where she claims an ICE agent pointed a gun at her head while she was passing by immigration offices. The incident, which prompted her to film the encounter, has raised concerns about civil rights violations and government overreach. She stated that the event should be investigated and that additional footage exists beyond the two-minute dashcam video.

A U.S.-based pro-China media outlet, BreakThrough News, defended itself against a Congressional probe on Democracy Now!, addressing subpoenas issued by the House Ways and Means Committee regarding Neville Roy Singham's funding network. Presenter Rania Khalek framed the subpoenas as a 'McCarthy-style attack' on free speech rather than a legitimate inquiry into alleged foreign influence. The committee is examining how non-profit laws protect against foreign influence.

The article addresses the topic of First Amendment rights specifically within a campus setting. It advises readers that details regarding this issue can be found by reading an associated complaint.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals blocked New York City's 2021 law requiring food delivery apps to share customer data with restaurants, ruling it violates the First Amendment. The law, aimed at helping restaurants recover from the pandemic, was criticized for inadequate opt-out options and compelling apps to disclose personal customer information. The decision upheld a lower court's finding that the law imposes unconstitutional speech restrictions.

A federal appeals court allowed Florida to enforce a law restricting children from certain sexually explicit live performances, including drag shows deemed obscene. The 11th Circuit ruled 8-5 that a restaurant's challenge to the law was unlikely to succeed, vacating a preliminary injunction and sending the case back to district court.

The 11th Circuit Court allowed Florida to enforce its law banning minors from attending 'adult live performances' like drag shows, overturning a previous injunction. The majority argued the law protects children's well-being, while dissenters claimed it targets drag performances. Florida joins four other states with similar bans.

A Maryland synagogue sued Montgomery County, challenging a regulation that prohibits firearm possession within 100 yards of places of worship, claiming it violates the First, Second, and Fourteenth Amendments. The synagogue argues the law hinders its ability to defend against anti-Semitic threats and fulfill religious security obligations, citing Talmudic teachings. The county enacted the regulation to comply with a state Supreme Court ruling that limited local firearm restrictions to specific public assembly areas.

A Tennessee Republican candidate for governor, Monty Fritts, stated he would work to ban mosques and non-Christian religions like Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism if elected. He argued the First Amendment does not prohibit states from doing so, claiming Islam is a political movement incompatible with the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions.

A Tennessee state representative running for governor stated he would ban mosques and non-Christian religions like Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, arguing the First Amendment does not prohibit states from doing so. The candidate, Monty Fritts, claims Islam is a political movement incompatible with the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions and cited a spiritual calling for entering the race.

8News' legal analyst Russ Stone discussed the First Amendment argument in a lawsuit filed by a former Chesterfield County Public Schools employee against the school board. The employee was fired over comments made following Charlie Kirk's death.

Tennessee state representative Monty Fritts, a Republican candidate for governor, plans to ban non-Christian religions including Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism if elected, arguing the First Amendment allows states to do so. The proposal conflicts with U.S. constitutional protections and would affect tens of thousands of Tennesseans, with the Tennessee primary election on August 6.

A former Chesterfield County Public Schools employee filed a lawsuit against the school board, claiming her termination over Facebook comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk violated her First Amendment rights. The suit alleges unlawful termination based on her social media post.

A coalition of multifaith groups plans to ask the Supreme Court to review Texas' law allowing Ten Commandments displays in public schools, arguing it violates the First Amendment's establishment clause. The case contrasts with a 1980 ruling (Stone v. Graham) that banned such displays, as the Fifth Circuit recently upheld Texas' law, citing the Supreme Court's 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton decision that discarded the Lemon test. The dispute centers on originalist interpretations of the founders' views on church-state separation.

Kash Patel's attorney rejected The Atlantic's motion to dismiss a $250 million defamation lawsuit, accusing the magazine of publishing false claims about Patel's behavior. The Atlantic argues the lawsuit is baseless and seeks to defend its journalism while emphasizing First Amendment protections.

The Second Circuit reinstated racial hatred as an aggravating factor in the federal death penalty trial of Payton Gendron, who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket in 2022. The court rejected Gendron’s First Amendment defense, allowing jurors to consider racially motivated killings and attempts to incite violence.

The Justice Department dropped criminal charges against labor leader David Huerta, who was arrested during 2025 protests against federal immigration actions. Huerta claimed the charge was baseless and an attempt to intimidate activists, while prosecutors stated he obstructed officers during a search warrant operation.

Federal prosecutors filed a motion to drop charges against labor leader David Huerta, who was arrested in 2025 while protesting an ICE raid in Los Angeles. Huerta, leader of Service Employees International Union California, was initially charged with a felony but faced a reduced misdemeanor accusation. The Department of Justice stated the case should be dismissed by month's end, citing compliance with bond terms and a policy against arresting peaceful protesters.

Former FBI Director James Comey requested dismissal of federal charges against him, arguing a seashells Instagram post with the numbers '86 47' was political speech, not a threat against President Donald Trump. The government claims the post constituted a threat, while Comey's lawyers assert it violates the First Amendment. The case follows a dismissed Virginia case and is part of a broader legal campaign by the Trump administration's Justice Department.

James Comey requested a judge to dismiss criminal charges related to an Instagram post. He argued the charges violate his First Amendment rights.

St. Paul’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City, Maryland, is operating an overnight shelter in its parish hall for homeless residents, leading to a federal lawsuit against the city. Ocean City claims the shelter violates local zoning laws and seeks an injunction to close it, while the church argues the town's actions infringe on religious freedom under the First Amendment.

The LA City Council is facing a potential First Amendment lawsuit after banning 'offensive slurs' during public meetings, drawing criticism from free-speech advocates.

The Trump administration updated Department of Justice guidance to prioritize religious liberty in federal regulations and policies, citing Supreme Court rulings and statutory protections like the First Amendment and Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The changes emphasize accommodating religious expression in workplaces, ensuring equal access for religious organizations in federal contracts, and aligning with recent court decisions such as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Groff v. DeJoy.

The Department of Justice agreed to withdraw subpoenas of New York Times reporters covering President Donald Trump’s Qatari-donated Air Force One jet after a federal judge criticized the subpoenas for errors and lack of adherence to First Amendment protections. The judge questioned the DOJ’s rushed approach and potential misuse of subpoenas to deter reporting, leading to their withdrawal.

The U.S. government withdrew subpoenas for three New York Times reporters after a federal judge criticized its legal errors. The judge emphasized that subpoenas for journalists should be a last resort, and the Justice Department faces criticism for its aggressive tactics against media organizations. Similar subpoenas for journalists from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal were also recently withdrawn.

The legality of taking a selfie with a ballot varies by state in the U.S. Fifteen states explicitly prohibit ballot selfies, while 27 allow them, and four restrict them to absentee or mail-in voting. The debate centers on voting secrecy laws and free speech concerns, with some states adjusting rules to address social media trends.

The U.S. government withdrew subpoenas for three New York Times reporters after a federal judge criticized its legal errors. The judge emphasized that subpoenas should be used as a last resort, aligning with First Amendment protections, and the Trump administration had similarly withdrawn subpoenas for journalists from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. Navy announced it will no longer release sailors' service history to the press, citing security threats and harassment concerns. The policy, part of broader press access restrictions under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has drawn criticism from legal experts for potentially violating the First Amendment and complicating media coverage of military personnel.

Salah Sarsour, president of Milwaukee’s Islamic Society, faces a deportation hearing after being detained by ICE for months. A federal judge previously ruled his arrest was First Amendment retaliation for his Palestinian advocacy and criticism of Israel. Sarsour, a lawful permanent resident since 1998 and naturalized citizen under George W. Bush, was released in June following the ruling.

The U.S. Navy will no longer release sailors' service history, expanding restrictions on press access driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The policy, cited as a response to security threats and harassment, removes public information about sailors' assignments, awards, and units, complicating media reporting on military personnel involved in news events.

More than 500 journalists urged the White House Correspondents' Association to publicly oppose President Donald Trump at its rescheduled dinner, calling for condemnation of his attacks on the press and defense of the First Amendment. The WHCA stated its intention to host Trump while celebrating the role of the press, despite criticism from journalists who view his presence as contradictory to the event's purpose.

Four Black activists, including members of the African People’s Socialist Party and a Georgia-based group called Black Hammer, were convicted of conspiring to act as unregistered Russian agents. They argue their political speech and protests were protected by the First Amendment, while prosecutors claim they spread Russian misinformation and received funds from a Russian-linked organization.

A US appeals court overturned a 2025 ruling that required the release of pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention. The decision, which does not order his re-arrest, could make it harder for Green Card holders to use First Amendment claims to secure release from detention, following his detention after participating in campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.

Federal agencies canceled nearly $2 billion in University of California research grants using keywords like diversity and vaccine hesitancy, which researchers allege violated the First Amendment. The Trump administration is accused of targeting politically disfavored research and disproportionately affecting states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

President Trump’s administration sought phone records of New York Times journalists and their relatives to unmask sources related to a story about a Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The Justice Department claims the subpoenas target leakers, not reporters, while the Times argues the requests violate First Amendment protections and constitute an abuse of the grand jury process.

Officials in President Donald Trump's administration sought phone records of New York Times journalists and their relatives to unmask sources related to articles about a Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The Justice Department claims reporters are not targets, but the Times argues the subpoenas violate First Amendment protections and represent an abuse of legal processes.

A New York City tattoo shop is suing South Carolina over its buffer zone law and face tattoo prohibition, claiming these regulations are unconstitutional. The lawsuit argues that tattoos constitute artistic expression protected by the First Amendment, which cannot be restricted as a disfavored form of expression.