Topic: First Amendment

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Playing the IRS card: Six presidents who used the IRS to bash political foes

Since the advent of the federal income tax about a century ago, several presidents – or their zealous underlings – have directed the IRS to use its formidable police powers to harass or punish enemies, political rivals, and administration critics. Here are six infamous episodes.
Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 5 differences on women's issues

President Obama won the women’s vote four years ago, and he’ll need to again to win reelection, given Mitt Romney’s strength among male voters. Here are some of the women’s issues on which the candidates differ.
US Supreme Court: Big 21st century rulings

The past 12 years have seen significant US high court decisions with wide-ranging effects on personal freedoms and national politics. Another key ruling is expected this summer on President Obama's health-care reform law. Here are some recent top rulings, all decided by 5-to-4 votes.
Tyler Clementi and cyberbullying: how courts ruled in five other cases

The trial for the roommate of former Rutgers University Tyler Clementi will be watched by legal experts nationwide to see how the court addresses the growing issue of cyberbullying. Here is a list of court proceedings where cyberbullying or Internet privacy invasion was a key issue.
Extradition fight: Who is Julian Assange, why is Sweden seeking him?

A British court is hearing a final appeal from Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistleblower site, to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sex crime allegations. Here are four questions about the man and the case.

All Content

The Monitor's View: What next after Supreme Court ruling on violent video games?

A division of opinions on the Supreme Court leaves open a door for states to regulate such games.
Supreme Court strikes down ban on selling violent video games to minors

California’s video-game ban violated the protections of the First Amendment, the Supreme Court said in a 7-to-2 decision.
Google investigation: Is it abusing its dominance?

Google investigation will focus on search results and advertising. Federal Trade Commission's launch of Google investigation could parallel federal probe of Microsoft in the 1990s.
Drug labels: Generics don't need warning updates

Drug labels and prescription records decisions by the Supreme Court Thursday favor the pharmaceutical industry. The court ruled that drug labels for generics don't need the same updated warnings that the brand-name makers do.
Supreme Court strikes down law restricting sale of prescription drug info

In a closely-watched case affecting data mining and physicians' privacy, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Vermont cannot stop prescription drug companies from accessing doctors' prescription histories in order to market newer, more expensive drugs.
Is Obama following in Nixon's footsteps by going after WikiLeaks?

Julian Assange faces a US grand jury investigation for his releases of information through WikiLeaks. Are there parallels between RIchard Nixon's legal action against The New York Times for publishing the Pentagon Papers?
Stop the press! It's no news conference ...

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's first-ever official session with reporters was a reminder just how useful a term 'the press' still is.
Tyson Tattoo: Why The Hangover II is getting sued by Mike Tyson's tattoo artist

Tyson tattoo artist sues The Hangover II for copyright infringement on his Mike Tyson tattoo. Does the tattoo artist have a case?
Supreme Court declines to hear 'So help me God' lawsuit

Michael Newdow, whose previous First Amendment challenge sought to strike 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance, tried to block the use of 'So help me God' in the inauguration ceremony.
Is insider trading really a crime?

Insider trading is in the spotlight again, following Raj Rajaratnam's conviction last week. Is the government crackdown on insider trading an interference with beneficial economic activity?
Pippa Middleton receives unwanted attention from paparazzi

Pippa Middleton won widespread praise for her Alexander McQueen dress at the royal wedding, but it's what she wore before the wedding that has the paparazzi clamoring for more and the royal family asking for legal intervention.
First GOP presidential debate: Was Pawlenty too 'Minnesota nice'?

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, considered a top-tier GOP candidate for president, didn't go after the absent Mitt Romney over health care during a GOP debate Thursday night in South Carolina, but he did condemn the Obama reform.
Supreme Court hears case: Is Vermont restricting drug companies' speech?

Drug companies tell the Supreme Court that by barring access to doctors' drug prescribing records, Vermont is discriminating against the firms' protected commercial speech.
Supreme Court case: Can drug companies buy doctors' prescription data?

Pharmaceutical companies are challenging a Vermont law that bans them from accessing prescription-drug records unless they have the doctor's permission.
Legal challenge to National Day of Prayer thrown out

A federal judge last year had struck down as unconstitutional the National Day of Prayer. But on Thursday, a US appeals court ruled that the people who had brought the case lacked legal standing.
Feds' request: Let us take on jail that bans all books except the Bible

The Justice Department, in its appeal to a federal judge in South Carolina asking to intervene in an ACLU lawsuit against a county sheriff, says the policy discriminates against non-Christians.
Orlando can restrict feeding the homeless, rules 11th Circuit

Feeding the hungry may be an expression of free speech, but cities can still put 'reasonable' restrictions on it, ruled the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in a unanimous decision.
Inside the boiler room of currency trading

The average person who attempts to make money from trading currencies will likely be taken advantage of
Any difference between tax breaks and spending programs?

The Supreme Court recently ruled that state tax breaks are different from spending programs, but the effect of each is the same
YouTube death threat against Rep. Eric Cantor nets two-year prison term

Norman LeBoon, the man who admitted to posting a death threat against Rep. Eric Cantor on YouTube, received a two-year prison sentence Thursday.
The Monitor's View: In Arizona ruling, Justice Kennedy tips his hand on health-care mandate

The health-care law's 'individual mandate' is vulnerable to the Supreme Court deciding that Americans cannot be forced to buy health insurance. Kennedy's reasoning in a decision issued Monday hints at his worries. His vote will be pivotal.
Tax credits for religious schools? Supreme Court says taxpayers have no say.

The Supreme Court rules 5 to 4 that taxpayers do not have legal standing to challenge an Arizona tax-credit program because the state is not directly funding the parochial schools.
Supreme Court to decide Arizona’s unique campaign financing law

Arizona seeks to level the political playing field by helping finance some political candidates in a match of funds raised privately by opposing candidates. Does that chill free speech?
Is 'Check it out, bro, I'm in prison!' an appropriate Facebook status update?

Prisoners aren't allowed smart phones, but that doesn't keep at least a few enterprising inmates from using Facebook and Twitter. South Carolina is considering a ban on prison Facebook updates.
What recourse now to Westboro Baptist Church's rude protests?

With the US Supreme Court ruling in its favor, Westboro Baptist Church plans more controversial protests at funerals and cultural events. Counterspeech and counterprotests are best responses, say activists.