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First Amendment

Two students walk past a university building.
Closing Argument February 24
Knock, Knock! Who’s There? The Police.
What happens when a joke carries criminal charges?
By
Three Black men sit in a chapel, next to a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The man sitting in the middle wears glasses and a lime green polo over his dark green prison uniform. The two men sitting on either side of him hold a trombone and a saxophone, wearing jackets and slacks.
Closing Argument June 10, 2023
A Battle Over First Amendment Rights in Prisons
New York state tried to limit writings and artistic works from prisoners — illustrating a growing issue across the country.
By and
Insurrectionists gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
News April 1, 2021
Why Is It So Hard To Prosecute White Extremists?
Citing the protections of the First Amendment, prosecutors often use other charges as a workaround to go after members of hate groups.
By and
Eisha Love is a plaintiff in a federal suit challenging an Illinois law that restricts those with felony convictions from changing their name.
News January 27, 2020
What’s in a Name?
New lawsuits by transgender people challenge bans on name changes for those convicted of crimes.
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Case in Point February 20, 2017
The Man Arrested for Praising Jesus
Lester Packingham’s Facebook post is headed for the Supreme Court
By
Arthur Longworth leads a basic Spanish class for other inmates in Washington’s Monroe Correctional Complex in 2012.
News October 25, 2016
Does the First Amendment End at the Prison Gate?
An inmate’s novel is the latest test.
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Commentary June 12, 2016
For 50 Years, You’ve Had “The Right to Remain Silent”
So why do so many suspects confess to crimes they didn’t commit?
By Samuel Gross and Maurice Possley
News April 14, 2016
Should Prisoners Be Allowed to Have Facebook Pages?
A new policy in Texas limits inmates’ access to social media, creating a First Amendment conundrum.
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Quiz September 30, 2015
Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Prison Censor?
Test yourself against the pros.
By
News June 26, 2015
‘You’re Really Being an Asshole, Officer.’
The law on cursing at cops.
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