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.

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Cover Story Future hangs on misunderstood majority of gun owners

Gun control seen through the eyes of the misunderstood majority of gun owners is more nuanced and complex than the absolutism of America's big gun lobbies. The Obama administration is courting this breed of centrist, gun-friendly Americans on the fence about gun control.
Russians may end up with a web vetted by The League for Internet Safety

Russia's Internet is facing official efforts to rein it in. Users are in an uproar over suggestions they should soon be sent only to a list of approved websites proposed by The League for Internet Safety.
Sam Mullet, Amish beard-cutting ring leader, gets 15-year jail term

Sam Mullet is an Amish leader who terrorized other Amish followers by cutting their beards and hair. The government said the attacks were retaliation against Amish who had defied or denounced Sam Mullet and his authority.
Robert Reich Immigration, corporations, and the real debate over US citizenship

Immigration is just one part of the conversation over US citizenship, Reich writes. The immigration debate is also a question of who we want to join us.
American Idol contestants claim racial discrimination. Do they have a case?

Former 'American Idol' contestants say they were disqualified based on their race and criminal records, in violation of California law. What does a legal expert say about the American Idol case?
Can police use your silence against you? Supreme Court to decide.

The Supreme Court is reviewing a case in which a Texas man's silence while voluntarily answering police questions was presented as evidence at trial. His murder conviction was upheld on appeal.
Justin Bieber paparazzo killed: Lessons from this tragedy?

Justin Bieber paparazzo killed: On Tuesday, a photographer was killed by a vehicle while chasing pop star Justin Bieber. In today's celebrity-driven culture, how can paparazzo tragedies like this be avoided?
Gun control: Is David Gregory’s on-air stunt proof of media bias?

Washington police are investigating ‘Meet the Press’ host David Gregory for holding up a rifle clip on air. Gun control opponents see the incident as proof the media are biased against them.
Video games and shooting: Is the NRA right?

The NRA says the problem with mass shootings like the recent one at the Sandy Hook grade school in Connecticut is not too many unregulated guns but violent video games. But most academic and government research does not support the gun lobby's charge.
9/11 trial: Any mention of torture is classified, military judge rules

The military judge in the 9/11 trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others granted a government request to make all mention of alleged torture in the court classified. The defense called the ruling 'shameful.'
Why US should be wary of attacking cyberradicals, including Al Qaeda

Missives from extremist groups such as Al Qaeda can easily be found online. But launching cyberattacks to shut their websites down is problematic – and even counterproductive, a new report finds.
Calif. gay conversion therapists win first round in court

A US District Court Judge made a decision just hours after a hearing on the issue, ruling that First Amendment rights of therapists outweigh concerns about danger to young people of gay conversion therapy.
Concealed weapons: US court upholds New York state requirement for permit

New York requires gun owners to prove they have a special need for protection to obtain a concealed weapons permit. The 100-year-old law does not violate the Second Amendment, the court ruled.
Obamacare: Supreme Court orders new look at university’s lawsuit

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered an appeals court to consider the underlying merits of Liberty University’s lawsuit – including whether Obamacare violates religious freedom.
Can people record police officers? Illinois ban gets no help at Supreme Court.

Supreme Court justices refused to hear an appeal on behalf of Illinois' tough eavesdropping law. A federal appeals court had ruled that the law 'likely violates' free speech guarantees.
Nativity display lawsuit: Atheists vs. Christians in Santa Monica (+video)

Nativity display lawsuit: A 60-year Christmas tradition ended in Santa Monica this year. But California churches have filed a lawsuit to bring back the Nativity display in a Santa Monica park.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito takes on critics, defends Citizens United

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito told the conservative Federalist Society this week that the First Amendment protects political speech, whether from an individual or a corporation.
Robert Reich BP oil spill settlement: why BP is not a criminal

The Justice Department’s criminal settlement with BP gives their top executives a free pass — allowing the public to believe justice has been done, Reich writes.
Billionaires and shadowy groups fund record-breaking election

This election cycle super PACs and billionaires who have been able to donate anonymously, have funded the most expensive election in the nation's history.
9/11 trial: Did US have improper influence? Lawyer asks judge for help.

A defense lawyer in the 9/11 war crimes trial tells a judge that a top prosecutor, asked if there had been improper influence by Defense Department or administration officials, refused to answer at least 25 times.
Texas cheerleaders fight ban on biblical banners at football games

Texas cheerleaders expect a court ruling today on their battle against a school district ban on their display of biblical verses at high school football games. At issue: do the signs constitute individual free speech or do they look like they're sponsored by the public school district?
9/11 cases: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed speaks in court, lectures judge

The accused 9/11 mastermind had skipped pretrial hearings at Guantánamo, but he made a surprise showing Wednesday afternoon and addressed the court. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had some counsel for the judge.
Man behind 'Innocence of Muslims' denies violating his probation

Mark Basseley Youssef, the California man behind the inflammatory anti-Muslim film, made a court appearance Wednesday and denied having violated the terms of his probation.
Focus Can GOP survive its 'minority problem'?

Polls show that the GOP continues to be 'the party of old, white men' – and that could be decisive in the 2012 presidential election. Demographics suggest that the party must change, and soon.
Court decision produces twist in Wisconsin union fight

After a ruling that struck down parts of Wisconsin's collective-bargaining law, unions are calling to renegotiate contracts. Separately, an appeals court took up the constitutionality of the law Monday.