On November 29, 2018, I had the pleasure of helping to present during a recent Florida First Amendment Sunshine Seminar in Jacksonville. Members of the news media and representatives from local governments attended the event to learn more about complying with laws on...
First Amendment
Appeals Court Says Fort Lauderdale Food Sharing Protected Under the First Amendment
Like many cities, Fort Lauderdale’s homeless population has grown in recent years, resulting in a two very different reactions. One is an attempt to reach out to the homeless community and offer help, as exemplified by the weekly meals at Stranahan Park offered by a...
The Difference Between Speech and Press: Where They Do and Don’t Overlap
Freedom of speech and freedom of press are covered by many of the same laws. And both concepts are covered under the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the...
Will Sun Sentinel Face Consequences for Revealing Redacted Info on Nikolas Cruz?
After the Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, there was an investigation into how effectively the school district provided counseling and education services to shooter Nikolas Cruz in the months leading up to the horrific crimes he is charged...
Judge Confirms: You Can Be Fired for Flipping Off the President without Violating Your First Amendment Rights
At the end of last year, I shared about the case of Juli Briskman, who was photographed flipping the bird at President Trump’s motorcade. Her company, which oversees government contractors, fired her after she shared the photo on social media. Briskman then filed a...
Supreme Court: Our Right to Criticize and Petition the Government Remains Fundamental
From the earliest days of our Nation, criticizing government officials without retribution has been a hallmark of the freedoms our Founders determined as essential to our democracy. At the same time, those who serve in public office deserve respect and must be able to...
Why the NFL and ABC Are Free to Squelch the Free Speech of Football Players and Roseanne
Roseanne’s racist tweet. Kneeling football players. These recent events have caused people on both the right and left to express concerns about freedom of speech and expression in the United States. But these concerns are based on a misunderstanding. The truth is...
Mr. President, Unblock Your Twitter Account
A single tweet from President Trump is often fodder for an entire news cycle. It can completely change the national conversation and take over the public discourse. But what if the Tweeter-in-Chief blocks you from his conversations because you disagree with his ideas?...