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High court to hear appeal from anti-abortion protesters
Justices will review whether lower courts went too far in applying the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act to anti-abortion activities.  04.22.02

Attorneys in Robert Blake case at odds over media access
Defense plans to ask judge to bar TV cameras from actor's arraignment, but prosecutors say public has right of access to criminal trials.  04.22.02

State lawmakers draft more than 1,200 Sept. 11-related bills
Report outlines measures introduced nationwide that range from making terrorism a capital crime to requiring teachers to lead students in Pledge of Allegiance.  04.22.02

Nebraska high court: Church needn't own property to be a church
Majority sides with city, which had sought to deny liquor license to convenience store located within 150 feet of the House of Faith.  04.22.02

Court blocks release of detainees' names
N.J. appeals panel grants Justice Department request to keep identities secret while it appeals lower court decision.  04.22.02

Park Service can ask visitors to respect religious nature of Rainbow Bridge
Federal judge says policy does 'not coerce visitors into practicing the Native American religion' associated with natural bridge.  04.21.02

Political consultant says governor nixed public TV show
Lawsuit contends that Arkansas officials began pressuring station to punish Roby Brock after a speech critical of the governor.  04.20.02

State high court rejects inmate's challenge to religious-services rules
Prisoner claimed his rights were violated by policy requiring chaplains or volunteers be present during all inmate religious services and that inmates not be allowed to preach.  04.20.02

News media win bid to televise California murder trial
But judge in Danielle van Dam case extends gag order, denies request to unseal search-warrant documents.  04.19.02

Appeals court allows release of immigration-hearing transcripts
Meanwhile, INS orders state, local governments not to release names of those detained since Sept. 11.  04.19.02

Cincinnati bars events, displays in downtown square during holidays
Officials say ordinance isn't aimed at a particular group, but since 1992, city has been embroiled in fight to keep Klan from erecting cross.  04.19.02

Arizona judges to consider challenge to election financing
Opponents appealed ruling that upheld constitutionality of 10% surcharges on fines for crimes and traffic violations to finance elections.  04.19.02

Cardinal must answer questions in molestation probe
Judge rejects archdiocese's First Amendment argument, clearing way for Boston's highest-ranking Catholic leader to be deposed in sexual-abuse case.  04.19.02

Journalism council protests firing of college newspaper adviser
University of Texas at Tyler administrators also have unveiled new publications policy that critics say violates free speech.  04.18.02

Tennessee Senate unanimously backs Pledge of Allegiance bill
Public school students would be allowed to opt out of daily recitation if they or their parents objected to the exercise.  04.18.02

Louisiana lawmakers pass anti-terrorism bill
Legislature sends measure to governor despite complaints it would create veil of secrecy, infringe on residents' constitutional rights.  04.18.02

Ten Commandments amendment dies in Alabama Legislature
House failed to vote on constitutional amendment before Senate adjourned.  04.18.02

Native American Journalists Association announces move to South Dakota
News release Freedom Forum, University of South Dakota invite NAJA to share office space beginning in mid-2003.  04.18.02

N.H. newspaper loses bid to access court minutes
State high court says no cases in New Hampshire or elsewhere have established a public right to view court administrative records.  04.17.02

Federal judge backs school in spat over 'God Bless America'
Artist, 12, wanted elementary school to use her yearbook design with patriotic message; school said no.  04.17.02

Court overturns Virginia ban on church incorporation
Federal judge rules in case involving Jerry Falwell's church that 18th-century law discriminates based on religious status.  04.17.02

Other industries offer retention successes to follow
Diversity consultant tells ASNE that newspapers can learn how to retain journalists of color by studying the success stories of Procter & Gamble, Xerox, other companies.  04.16.02

Changing communities require different definition of news
Washington Post's Milton Coleman tells ASNE that changing demographics means changes in newspaper newsrooms to decrease 'crimes of omission.'  04.16.02

Communication, training help keep journalists of color in newsrooms
ASNE panels, speakers deal with minority-retention issues at newspapers.  04.16.02

'Choose Life' plates opponents ask full appeals court to hear case
5th Circuit panel had sent case back to lower court with instructions to dismiss, saying plaintiffs didn't have standing to sue Louisiana.  04.16.02

Supreme Court strikes down ban on virtual child porn
Justices rule 6-3 that the First Amendment protects pornography or other sexual images that only appear to depict real children engaged in sex.  04.16.02

Nader settles lawsuit over debate access
Former Green Party candidate had sued Commission on Presidential Debates after being barred from Boston event.  04.16.02

N.Y. prosecutor seeks reporter's notes
Attorney for the Daily News is reviewing subpoena for notes, which he says are protected under state shield laws.  04.16.02

N.Y. newspaper wins access to JonBenet Ramsey murder files
Federal judge orders prosecutors to turn over investigative documents to New York Post, which is being sued by Ramsey family for libel.  04.16.02

Supreme Court turns away jailed writer's appeal
Vanessa Leggett had asked justices to use her case to give writers, reporters more rights to protect the confidentiality of their sources.  04.15.02

High court won't weigh in on vanity-plate debate
Missouri officials had hoped justices would take case to decide if states can keep crude or contentious messages off license tags.  04.15.02

Bush allows gag orders under new military court rules
Under revised regulations, court-martial judges will be able to order witnesses not to talk to reporters.  04.15.02

TV station seeks to overturn ban on death-row interview
Widow of slain police officer also opposes order barring reporter from talking to first woman to be executed in Alabama since 1957.  04.15.02

Federal appeals court reinstates Texas prayer case
Lawsuit claims school district had no right to prevent student from leading prayer before football games.  04.15.02

Zoning still constricts some houses of worship
Scattered cases may test constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which exempts religious groups from most local zoning rules.  04.14.02

Groups sue Indiana over 'no-call' list
Four nonprofits claim law creating list of phone numbers that are off-limits to telemarketers violates free speech, association.  04.13.02

Trial begins for Amish who refuse to put safety symbols on carriages
Sect members say they'll leave Pennsylvania if judge rules they must use 16-inch orange reflective triangle.  04.13.02

Jailed writer wins PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award
Novice crime writer Vanessa Leggett to receive literary fellowship's award, accompanying $25,000 prize.  04.12.02

Bush urges passage of scaled-back faith-based plan
President sets Memorial Day target for Senate to approve bill creating new tax break for charitable donations.  04.12.02

Push for Ten Commandments displays gains momentum in South
Supporters see effort as way of encouraging morality, but civil libertarians view campaign as affront to nation's fundamental principles.  04.12.02

Federal judge: Boy has no right to wear Packers jersey to school
Dispute arose after fourth-grader was barred from sporting Green Bay football jersey at Minnesota Vikings party.  04.12.02

Louisiana court hears appeal in 'Natural Born Killers' case
Judges to consider whether filmmakers should share blame for couple's crime spree.  04.12.02

Networks urge FEC to stay out of election-debate decisions
Coalition wants to change federal rule it says could treat a news organization's invitation to appear in forum as illegal corporate campaign contribution.  04.11.02

House refuses to change disclosure requirements for 'stealth PACs'
Meanwhile, campaign-finance supporters ask two Republican FEC members to disqualify themselves from rule-making required by new law.  04.11.02

Louisiana legislators send silent-prayer bill to governor
Senate approves two other religious-related bills: one allowing verbal prayer in Bossier Parish public schools, one creating 'In God We Trust' license plate.  04.11.02

Congressman seeks to save housing tax exemption for clergy
Rep. Jim Ramstad hopes lawmakers will pass bill to limit 'parsonage exemption' in effort to pre-empt decision by 9th Circuit on tax break's constitutionality.  04.11.02

Diversity Diaries: Patricia Zapor
Learning from a potentially awkward cultural faux pas.  04.11.02

Pa. county's new law bans protests during terror warnings
Constitutional-law specialists say threats of terrorism do not relieve York County of obligation to protect freedom of assembly.  04.11.02

Panel: Media-military tension intensifying during war on terrorism
Newseum-sponsored panel discusses longstanding conflict between news media need for access, military need for secrecy.  04.10.02

Appeals court blocks release of immigration-hearing transcripts for now
Lower court had said Justice Department improperly barred disclosure of information about proceedings involving detained founder of Islamic charity.  04.10.02

Airport board justified in booting disruptive activist
Federal judge says Nevada man's First Amendment rights weren't violated because he had already been given a chance to speak before he was evicted.  04.10.02

'Prison Legal News' tries to break into Kansas jails
Lawsuit accuses Department of Corrections of restricting prisoners' access to reading materials, specifically magazine edited by Washington state inmate.  04.10.02

Maryland governor signs anti-terrorism bills
ACLU had opposed measure limiting access to some public records but says it worked with governor's staff to resolve those objections.  04.10.02

Supporters mull next move in campaign-finance fight
Political science professor says battle over election funding will never be over, even if new law survives court challenges.  04.09.02

N.J. judge rules 911 tapes are public record
Press groups say ruling is first in state dealing with public's right to listen to recorded emergency calls.  04.09.02

U.S. Chamber wins round in campaign-ads case
Overturning lower court, 5th Circuit rules that forcing business lobby to disclose amount spent on Mississippi election ads would violate free speech.  04.09.02

Missouri House votes to cut university budget to protest station's no-flag policy
'It was either this or going over and punching (KOMU's news director) in the face,' says lawmaker.  04.09.02

Evangelical Christians arrested on Mormon plaza
Meanwhile, federal appeals court considers dispute over church's efforts to restrict behavior on former city property.  04.09.02

Colorado high court refuses to order bookstore to turn over records
First Amendment, state constitution 'protect an individual's fundamental right to purchase books anonymously, free from governmental interference.'  04.08.02

California judge bars newspapers from publishing photos of defendant
Los Angeles Times, The Press-Enterprise of Riverside file separate appeals, claiming order is unconstitutional prior restraint.  04.08.02

News reporter charged with failing to notify fire department of fuel spill
Salt Lake City says Deseret News staff writer Jerry Spangler should have called fire department; an official didn't call, either.  04.08.02

Federal judge blocks bid to access newspaper's files
Cancer research facility had wanted Seattle Times to supply it with records of all communications between reporter and families that are suing facility.  04.08.02

Book on child sexuality causes uproar
Critics call for University of Minnesota to fire those responsible for publishing Judith Levine's book.  04.06.02

No charges to be filed in Andrea Yates gag order probe
Special prosecutor says justice wouldn't 'be served by going after folks that probably should have kept their mouths shut but nonetheless would have a valid First Amendment defense.'  04.05.02

Diversity Diaries: Mark Russell
Giving newer employees time and a chance to succeed.  04.05.02

State attorney general calls Ten Commandments displays unconstitutional
Opinion comes amid push to have all 95 Tennessee counties adopt resolutions in favor of posting religious codes in government buildings.  04.05.02

Fate of Internet-filtering law now in hands of judges
Federal panel hears nearly two weeks of testimony in American Library Association's challenge to Children's Internet Protection Act.  04.05.02

Judge closes part of hearing in Yosemite murder case
News media challenge order, saying proceedings should be open to ensure fair trial and to preserve public's right of access.  04.05.02

Cameras allowed in Dartmouth murder case
New Hampshire high court orders judge to lift ban on recording devices during plea, sentencing hearing.  04.04.02

Iowa high court OKs ban on mall protests
Justices uphold demonstrators' trespassing convictions, ruling shopping centers aren't public places.  04.04.02

Federal judge: Immigration hearings should be open to public, press
Justice Department improperly barred access to proceedings for co-founder of Islamic charity, court finds.  04.04.02

College students: Revised free-expression policy still too restrictive
'We don't intend to accept anything less than the guarantees of the First Amendment,' says West Virginia University doctoral candidate.  04.04.02

These dairy farmers fed up with 'Got Milk?' promotion
Supreme Court has produced mixed bag of rulings on mandatory ad campaigns for food producers.  04.04.02

FCC ordered to rewrite media-ownership rule
Federal appeals panel says commission must reconsider restrictions on companies that want to own two TV stations in the same market.  04.03.02

Oklahoma high court: English-only plan is unconstitutional
Justices find initiative infringes on freedoms of speech, petition and on the Legislature's policy-making function.  04.03.02

Iowa students object to singing Lord's Prayer at graduation
Choir members enlist civil liberties group to file suit against Woodbine Community School District.  04.03.02

Nebraska high court asked to define what constitutes a church
Case arose after state liquor board granted license to convenience store despite state law that prohibits sale of alcohol within 150 feet of a church.  04.03.02

Border agents face penalty for speaking to media
Move comes despite two recent government reports that say agents' comments on security lapses at U.S.-Canadian border were protected speech.  04.02.02

Cussing canoeist's conviction thrown out, along with 105-year-old law
Michigan Court of Appeals rules 1897 statute barring use of vulgar language in front of women, children is unconstitutional.  04.02.02

Teen asks Tennessee county to display Islamic pillars
Bradley County Commission, which recently voted to allow posting of Ten Commandments, has refused to consider request.  04.02.02

Federal judge clears way for D.C. vote on medicinal marijuana
'The Constitution does not allow Congress to pre-clear acceptable viewpoints for public debate and expression,' court finds.  04.02.02

Church groups combat efforts to restrict homeless programs
Religious groups in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, New York are fighting zoning rules they say would infringe on their ability to serve the poor.  04.02.02

High court turns away college officials' appeal in free-speech case
Lower court found former teacher could sue Kentucky community college leaders, claiming retaliation for his classroom comments.  04.01.02

Dirty words, pictures take center stage in battle over Internet smut
Trial over Children's Internet Protection Act begins second week in Philadelphia courtroom.  04.01.02

Federal judge strikes down character requirement for charities
Nashville, Tenn., ordinance instructed city board to consider applicants' 'character and integrity' before deciding whether to let them solicit donations.  04.01.02

Men who publicly praised Sept. 11 attacks to face charges
Manhattan judges won't dismiss cases; Floyd Abrams says defendants were expressing 'political advocacy, detestable to almost all of us, but protected nonetheless.'  04.01.02

Falwell argues against Va. law limiting church property
Supported by ACLU, evangelist says 18th-century laws restricting chuch land ownership no longer serve any purpose.  03.31.02

FCC rules risqué Victoria's Secret broadcast wasn't indecent
Agency says evidence didn't demonstrate that ABC prime-time special was 'so graphic or explicit as to be patently offensive.'  03.30.02

Providence mayor: Web site can't use my name
Web site developer will 'hear from lawyers' who will ask him to stop using BuddyCianci.com, says Vincent Cianci.  03.30.02

Georgia anti-SLAPP law doesn't protect trespassing
The 'right of free speech does not include the right to trespass onto another's land,' state high court says in ruling activist can be sued for taking photos on developer's land.  03.29.02

Federal judge strikes down ban on unsolicited fax ads
Fax.com president calls ruling a triumph for First Amendment rights, but Missouri attorney general says he'll appeal.  03.29.02

News outlets challenge gag order in Georgia sheriff's murder
Judge says comments from those involved in case could jeopardize fair trial for former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, accused in slaying of Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown.  03.29.02

Teen asks S.D. high court to overturn disorderly conduct conviction
Attorney tells justices boy was protected by free speech when he flipped up his middle finger, mouthed profanity at school principal.  03.29.02

Ruling says police can release transcript instead of 911 tape
Arizona Court of Appeals holds that sometimes privacy concerns outweigh presumption of open records.  03.29.02

California high court to decide whether critic's mass e-mailing was trespassing
Case involving former Intel employee tests whether free-speech protections extend to business e-mail systems.  03.28.02

N.J. judge orders counties to release detainees' names
ACLU representative says ruling is first of its kind to chip away at veil of secrecy surrounding terror probe.  03.28.02

High school officials ban independent student newspaper
Above Underground was started last December by students in Louisiana parish who were seeking uncensored outlet.  03.28.02

Federal judge backs Washington's blanket primary
Lawyers for political parties had argued that Supreme Court ruling in California case made it clear that Washington's system was unconstitutional.  03.28.02

Tennessee art gallery's no-nudes policy draws criticism
National Coalition Against Censorship urges state arts commission to lift ban after painting of female nude is blocked from exhibition.  03.28.02

Bush signs campaign-finance bill
National Rifle Association swiftly files suit challenging constitutionality of the new law.  03.27.02

Page last updated: 5/2/2013 6:29:50 AM