first amendment

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 Similar subpoenas for journalists from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal were also recently withdrawn.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should be used as a last resort, aligning with First Amendment protections, and the Trump administration had similarly withdrawn subpoenas for journalists from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.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.

A South Dakota federal judge blocked the state from enforcing a new law prohibiting abortion-related advertising and distribution of materials, ruling in favor of the nonprofit Mayday Health. The judge found the law failed strict scrutiny and violated First Amendment protections.

A federal judge ordered Arizona State University to disclose the identities of students who reported anti-semitism related to pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus to serve as potential witnesses in a First Amendment lawsuit. The judge ruled that these students may be material witnesses to a 2024 protest where 70 students were arrested, but denied revealing identities of those who complained before the protest. Plaintiffs allege university president Michael Crow retaliated against students for their speech, while the university claims suspensions were based on enforcing an anti-camping policy.

President Trumps nominee Jay Clayton faces Senate Intelligence Committee questions about his independence as Director of National Intelligence, with Democrats expressing concerns he may interfere in U.S. elections. Clayton emphasized his focus on foreign election interference, while senators also scrutinized his past actions as a U.S. attorney, including subpoenaing New York Times journalists.

Two US advocacy groups sued the Trump administration, alleging that 2025 sanctions against Palestinian rights organizations, International Criminal Court officials, and a UN expert violate the First Amendment. The lawsuit claims the sanctions have created a 'profound' chilling effect on constitutionally protected advocacy work related to Palestine.

Daniel Grand, an Orthodox Jew in Ohio, faced legal challenges after hosting Sabbath prayers at his home, requiring a special use permit from the city. Courts dismissed his First Amendment lawsuit as 'unripe' due to a zoning rule requiring a final administrative decision, despite the city's hostile permit process and unequal treatment compared to other home gatherings.

A federal judge froze a State Department policy banning individuals who combat disinformation and hate speech on social media, ruling it violated the First Amendment through viewpoint discrimination. The policy, initiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in 2025, led to deportations of coalition members, including leaders of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research.

A former special education teacher in Gaston County filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, superintendent, and members of the Board of Education, claiming her firing over a Charlie Kirk Facebook post violated her First Amendment rights.

The article discusses Trump's use of subpoenas against the New York Times, with federal agents visiting reporters' homes. It argues this targets journalists for activities protected by the First Amendment, framing it as an attack on press rights to gather information and protect sources.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia uses its restored 1922 prisoner synagogue to highlight the complex history of religious freedom for incarcerated individuals. The article details legal battles over inmates' rights to practice religion, including Supreme Court rulings that both expand and restrict these liberties, and recent cases involving a Rastafarian inmate's religious grooming practices.

Rogelio Bolufé, a Cuban immigrant detained by ICE, was deported to Ecuador after claiming his constitutional rights were violated during detention. He alleges denial of legal documents and retaliation for criticizing ICE facilities, while a DHS spokesperson stated he overstayed his visa and had a dismissed cocaine possession charge.

Donald Trump, having won a second term in 2024, is urging an Iowa judge to keep a lawsuit alive against the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer over a pre-election poll. Trump claims the poll was fraudulently manipulated to harm his campaign, while the defendants argue it is protected by the First Amendment. The case hinges on whether political polling qualifies as commercial speech under Iowa law.

Content creator 'Planet Hank' sued Vermont's attorney general over a law requiring disclaimers on AI-generated political media. The lawsuit argues the law violates the First Amendment, citing a satirical video of Rep. Becca Balint and her challenger that lacked a disclaimer. The attorney general investigated the video's compliance with the law, which mandates disclosures for AI media harming political candidates within 90 days of an election.

ABC is contesting the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) review of whether 'The View' qualifies as a news program exempt from equal time rules. The network argues a 2002 FCC decision already resolved this, and the Trump administration's involvement is seen as an attempt to suppress free speech. The dispute has broader implications for shows blending politics and entertainment.

California's Senate Bill 399, which prohibits employers from penalizing employees for skipping mandatory work meetings involving political or religious speech, faces legal challenges in the Ninth Circuit. Employers argue the law infringes on their First Amendment rights, while California contends it only restricts punishment for non-attendance, not the meetings themselves. Judges expressed skepticism about applying the 'captive audience' doctrine to private employers.

Seven FIU students were reprimanded for wearing anti-ICE t-shirts during a university event, claiming the university violated their First Amendment rights. The university asserts they followed policies regarding student conduct, requiring the students to record videos about the alleged violations to register for classes.

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to enforce a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors downloading apps or making in-app purchases. The law, the Texas App Store Accountability Act, was upheld by a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling after a district court had initially deemed it unconstitutional. Plaintiffs, including the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, argued the law violates First Amendment rights, while Texas officials claimed it protects children from harmful digital content.

The Supreme Court allowed Texas to enforce a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors to download apps or make purchases. The law, SB 2420, faces challenges from a student group and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, who argue it violates the First Amendment. The Court declined to reinstate a lower court's block on the law.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block Texas from enforcing a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors. The decision allows the Texas App Store Accountability Act to proceed, with plaintiffs including the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas challenging its constitutionality. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is a defendant in the cases.

The Supreme Court refused to block Texas' age verification law for app downloads, which requires minors under 18 to obtain parental consent. A coalition of students and the Computer & Communications Industry Association argued the law violates the First Amendment by restricting access to online content, but their emergency appeals were denied.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended a white nationalist group's Independence Day march through the nation's capital, citing the First Amendment, despite local residents' concerns. The march, involving around 400 masked participants wearing Patriot Front paraphernalia, drew criticism for its white supremacist ideology.

Media leaders are uniting to defend free speech against Trump's attacks, including DOJ subpoenas, lawsuits, and FBI raids targeting journalists. Trump has threatened legal action against ABC and used tactics like weaponizing the FCC and DOJ to suppress critical coverage, while media organizations increasingly support each other amid these assaults.

The U.S. Supreme Court will review a case from University Heights, Ohio, where Daniel Grand claims city officials required him to obtain a permit to host prayer gatherings at his home. The city argued his proposed religious activities in a residential area would create traffic and safety issues, while Grand asserts the government should not regulate prayer under the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court permitted a reporter to be fined for not disclosing a source. Catherine Herridge attempted to use First Amendment protections to avoid testifying and identifying her sources.