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Utah lawmaker pushes mandatory pledge bill
Measure to require weekly recitations at secondary schools would allow students to opt out of oath only if they have parental permission.  02.04.03

Wyoming House panel hears testimony on bias-crime bill
Opponents say measure would violate residents' equal-protection, free-speech rights.  02.04.03

Battle intensifies over film-sanitizing software
Video store, filmmakers will face off in federal court this month over software that allows users to edit objectionable content from movies.  02.03.03

Federal judge denies Virginia inmate's request for kosher meals
Court declares unconstitutional part of federal law that dictates how government should treat the religious rights of inmates.  02.03.03

Government can ban trade in eagle parts, rules federal appeals panel
9th Circuit rejects Native American's religious-freedom argument, upholding man's conviction for smuggling.  02.03.03

Azizah magazine provides forum for Muslim women's voices
Female-owned publication offers Islamic women a chance to read about themselves, connect with each other, publisher says.  02.03.03

Federal judge, as expected, reverses order on Mormon plaza
Utah court was required to vacate its earlier ruling after 10th Circuit panel decided that church's speech restrictions violated First Amendment.  02.01.03

Musician asks Senate to slow consolidation of radio ownership
Legislation would strengthen government oversight of station mergers, ban arrangements in which recording companies pay stations' promoters for air time.  01.31.03

Professor's refusal to recommend evolution foes prompts lawsuit, probe
Group suing on student's behalf calls biology professor's policy 'open religious bigotry'; Justice Department asks Texas Tech to respond to allegations.  01.31.03

University gets more time to respond to ex-coach's free-speech suit
Deadline is extended after Nolan Richardson adds defendants to lawsuit, which claims Arkansas officials fired him because of his outspokenness on race matters.  01.31.03

Public-records advocates form state group
State's 'sunshine laws are a patchwork quilt of statutes,' says president of South Dakotans for Open Government.  01.31.03

Federal judge throws out Connecticut's primary system
Case filed on behalf of challengers who tried to get on the ballot but couldn't get support from 15% of party delegates.  01.30.03

White House shelves poetry symposium over planned anti-war protest
First lady postpones event after some poets say they want to use occasion to protest military action against Iraq.  01.30.03

Telemarketers sue to block national 'do-not-call' list
Lawsuit says Federal Trade Commission list would violate First Amendment by blocking constitutionally protected free speech in advance.  01.30.03

N.C. school district drops ban on Confederate flag apparel
Parent who helped persuade administrators to change policy says 'you can't preach tolerance if you pick and choose what you will tolerate.'  01.30.03

Church-state foes decry Bush plan to fund faith-based drug treatment
Latest proposal, outlined during State of the Union speech, is latest round in 2-year battle over role of religion in delivering social services.  01.29.03

Orientation journals: Chips Quinn Scholars jot down thoughts and lessons
Chips Quinn Scholar: ‘The people involved with Chips Quinn have given me the gift of inspiration, comfort and support in a field that often leaves me disillusioned.’  01.29.03

Texas city sues over order to disclose surveillance information
Lawsuit is second in less than two weeks opposing state attorney general's ruling that University of Texas must release details about campus surveillance cameras.  01.29.03

Oregon school district bars speech by former Hitler courier
Salem-Keizer School District administrators say they fear that author Armin Lehmann could spark anti-Semitism, hatred among high school students.  01.29.03

Hawaii high school drops 'love for God' from honor code
Move comes as part of settlement of federal lawsuit filed by ACLU, which claimed school's code violated church-state separation.  01.29.03

Federal appeals court stomps on mandatory grape ads
9th Circuit finds generic campaign for California table grapes violates growers' free-speech rights.  01.28.03

Colombian rebels kidnap American, British journalists
National Liberation Army rebel group says U.S. support for Colombian government prompted them to seize reporter, photographer.  01.28.03

Nebraska newspaper will no longer call D.C. football team 'Redskins'
"We've made this decision out of respect for Native people," says Lincoln Journal Star editor  01.28.03

Librarians troubled by federal surveillance law
Some worry that through USA Patriot Act, FBI has returned to routinely checking on reading habits of intellectuals, civil rights leaders and other Americans.  01.28.03

Puerto Rico won't appeal ruling that struck down criminal-libel law
Federal appeals court finds statute is unconstitutional 'as applied to statements regarding public officials or figures,' conflicts with First Amendment.  01.28.03

Cameras barred from teen sniper suspect's hearings
Broadcasters group is considering filing legal motion asking Virginia judge to allow TV cameras.  01.28.03

Freedom Forum names 27 Chips Quinn Scholars for spring 2003 program
Additional newspapers in Oregon, California and Colorado become first-time hosts for journalism students of color.  01.27.03

High court refuses to hear fight over Barbie song parody
Justices turn away appeal by Mattel to reopen trademark fight over Danish group's 1997 dance hit 'Barbie Girl.'  01.27.03

State relents, gives scholarship to student majoring in religious studies
American Center for Law and Justice agrees to drop federal lawsuit filed against Kentucky program on behalf of Michael Woods Nash.  01.27.03

Dismissed honor guardsman to challenge firing
Patrick Cubbage says his practice of offering graveside religious blessings at a veterans cemetery won the appreciation of grieving families but cost him his job.  01.27.03

Oregon teen expelled over off-color Web site sues school district
Legal experts say such cases illustrate the tension between free speech, school safety.  01.25.03

Federal judge finds man in contempt in cybersquatting case
Minnesota abortion foe says he'd rather go to jail than give up Web site addresses derived from well-known trademarks such as The Washington Post, McDonald's.  01.25.03

Kentucky federal judge tosses challenge to Ten Commandments display
Judge hands ACLU its first defeat in a string of lawsuits aimed at removing religious codes from state's government buildings.  01.24.03

Specialized newspapers serve central Iowa's growing Latino population
Iowa Journalist: Many Latino immigrants depend on Hispanic newspapers to provide pertinent information in Spanish  01.24.03

Bush administration: Religious groups should get access to HUD money
Critics say plan, part of array of 'faith-based' initiatives pushed by president during the past two years, comes perilously close to crossing constitutional divide between church, state.  01.24.03

Florida woman sues state for disallowing veil in I.D. photo
Sultaana Freeman's attorney argues state statutes don't require photograph on identification card, and that government's stand is unconstitutional.  01.24.03

Kentucky federal judge tosses challenge to Ten Commandments display
Judge hands ACLU its first defeat in a string of lawsuits aimed at removing religious codes from state's government buildings.  01.24.03

Student told to change Rebel flag shirt
Kelly Bokern's T-shirt combines Confederate image with South Carolina palmetto symbol.  01.24.03

Supreme Court won't review Akron's strict campaign-finance curbs
Opponents of voter-approved restrictions vow to keep fighting some of the most stringent limits in the country.  01.23.03

Federal appeals court won't consider ruling opening deportation hearings
6th Circuit decision contradicts 3rd Circuit ruling that such hearings could be closed; attorney says stage is set for Supreme Court to decide which court is right.  01.23.03

Nude club's lawsuit against Utah city revived by federal appeals panel
'This because-I-said-so approach is startlingly evident,' majority says of Ogden's actions.  01.23.03

Attorney: Virginia Military Institute prayer serves secular purpose
State asks 4th Circuit panel to overturn ruling barring college's daily dinner prayer, but ACLU argues practice is unconstitutional endorsement of religion.  01.23.03

High court wants arguments on Louisiana casino-contribution ban
Justices order state to file opposition arguments even though they haven't decided whether to hear challenge to law barring casinos from donating to political campaigns.  01.22.03

Judge orders Verizon to identify online file-swapper
Company vows to appeal ruling that its attorney says has 'troubling ramifications' for future growth of Internet.  01.22.03

Municipal judge shreds argument that free newspapers are trash
Natchez, Miss., court finds anti-littering ordinance, as applied to newspapers, is 'vague' and 'ambiguous.'  01.22.03

Honk if you support free speech
Oregon high school abuzz over proposed on-campus bumper-sticker rules.  01.22.03

High court won't revive suit blaming Hollywood for school shooting
Case questioned the responsibility of moviemakers, other entertainment companies for movies, video games and other products that feature violence.  01.21.03

California high court to decide if student's violent poetry is protected
George T. was 15 when he was expelled from Santa Teresa High, prosecuted under criminal threats law.  01.21.03

L.A. airport barred from limiting Hare Krishna solicitors
Federal judge grants restraining order in religious group's challenge to airport's new solicitation ordinance.  01.21.03

Appeals court reverses decision in newspaper-seizure case
Allowing sheriff's deputies to buy up large quantities of newspaper because it criticized an official is unacceptable, 4th Circuit says.  01.21.03

Despite opposition, school district to hold classes on King Day
School board president says staying open 'will give us not only an opportunity to talk about Martin Luther King, but to discuss the First Amendment.'  01.20.03

Campus group fights colleges' leadership rules
Former leader of InterVarsity group at Tufts University says campus regulations forbidding religious, sexual-orientation discrimination are like 'forcing a Republican group to have a Democratic president or a Hillel group to have a Holocaust denier.'  01.18.03

UC-Berkeley relents on mailing quoting Emma Goldman
University had stopped fund-raising letter including anti-war quotations from long-dead anarchist, saying they could be construed as political statements against Bush administration policies on Iraq.  01.17.03

Texas high court hears debate over taping jury deliberations
One judge questions whether trial court's decision to allow 'Frontline' to tape proceedings would turn process into 'reality TV, like "Survivor." '  01.16.03

Arizona judge allows release of Diana Ross arrest video
Singer's attorneys, city lawyer agree to conditions of release, which was requested by news media.  01.16.03

White supremacist group gets go-ahead for Pennsylvania rally
Federal judge gives approval for MLK Jr. Day protest after lawyers for city of York, Miss.-based Nationalist Movement reach agreement.  01.16.03

Supreme Court backs Congress' copyright extension
7-2 ruling, though not unexpected, is blow to Internet publishers, others wanting to use old books, creations without paying high royalties.  01.15.03

S.C. high court rules against some church tax exemptions
Churches have to pay their share of public projects, justices find, so Charleston church will assessed.  01.15.03

N.J. appeals court rules against secret hearing
Panel orders lower court to hold hearing again in public for man accused of selling phony driver's licenses used by two Sept. 11 hijackers.  01.15.03

Students suspended for passing out candy canes sue school
Attorney representing six Massachusetts high schoolers says policy barring distribution of anything unrelated to curriculum 'chills their speech.'  01.15.03

High court refuses to consider fight over Columbine memorial
Justices won't hear appeal from victims' parents who want to include references to God on tiles.  01.14.03

Appeals court revives 'Perfect Storm' lawsuit
Families say fishermen were portrayed without consent, and negatively, in film starring George Clooney.  01.14.03

California ends fight over execution access
Corrections Department won't ask U.S. Supreme Court to review ruling allowing news media, others to view executions from beginning to end.  01.14.03

Federal judge: Tennessee athletic association rule violates school's free speech
Private academy had argued that recruiting guideline was so vague and unfairly applied, it was difficult to know when a school had stepped over the line.  01.14.03

Judge refuses to close hearing in Malvo case
Defense had argued that publicity would impair sniper suspect's right to fair trial, but prosecutor said public's right to witness proceedings trumped any potential harm.  01.13.03

N.J. appeals court: Overtly religious people can be barred from juries
Dissenting judge says prosecutor's dismissal of potential jurors violates their right to free exercise of religion and defendant's right to equal protection.  01.13.03

Framers didn't intend for God to be stripped from public life, says Scalia
Supreme Court justice also uses Religious Freedom Day event to reiterate criticisms that the Constitution is being liberally interpreted.  01.13.03

Amish case is about religion, zoning — depending on whom you ask
Lawyer for two Pennsylvania men says ordinance's language, which specifically bars horses but not other livestock, shows it's targeted at sect.  01.12.03

Public-funding foes ask high court to overturn Arizona elections system
Paradise Valley Republican, Institute for Justice say surcharges on criminal, traffic fines infringe on payers' free-speech rights.  01.11.03

Courts block man from arguing he had free-speech right to expose himself
Attorney for Michigan man convicted of indecent exposure for cable-access skit says he expects to win on appeal.  01.11.03

Kansas mayor charged for allegedly pushing reporter
TV journalist says Columbus official told her 'to get out of his area,' later shoved her while she was working on story at City Hall.  01.10.03

Judge takes issue with boy, 9, being at center of religious-freedom suit
'There comes a point in time when children should be allowed to grow up without being used as pawns,' says one of three federal appeals court judges hearing case.  01.10.03

Students file lawsuit over confiscated newspapers
Cleveland-area school district confiscated entire edition containing article on student drinking.  01.10.03

University wants names kept secret in flap over 'Confederate' dorm
Vanderbilt, which faces lawsuit for dropping 'Confederate' from name of residence hall, says administrators have been threatened over decision.  01.10.03

Critics decry latest edits in N.Y. English exam
State Education Department, however, denies that any answers were wrong or edited for sensitivity.  01.09.03

Giuliani defends role in firing of NYC workers who paraded in blackface
Former mayor testifies that his statement that firefighters, cop would be dismissed wasn't an order but a prediction that could have been ignored by their bosses.  01.09.03

White supremacist charged with seeking to kill judge in trademark case
'Freedom of speech does not include the freedom to solicit murder,' prosecutor says concerning case of Matt Hale.  01.09.03

Pennsylvania high court: Topless dancing and alcohol don't mix
Ruling marks first time since 1959 that the court decided a First Amendment challenge to state Liquor Code's ban on 'lewd, immoral or improper entertainment.'  01.08.03

Florida furniture store succeeds in shutting down consumer Web site
Judge rules that site handling customer complaints about Kane's Furniture improperly uses company's name and could confuse people.  01.08.03

10th Circuit upholds dismissal of Amway defamation suit
Procter & Gamble had asked three-judge panel to reinstate lawsuit accusing Amway of spreading rumors linking company to devil worship.  01.08.03

Kansas governor-elect can close team meetings
But judge rebukes Kathleen Sebelius, saying the 'time has long passed that critical public policy decisions can be formulated and based on privately held discussions.'  01.07.03

Researchers worry fear of terrorism could muzzle science
More federal funds come with strings attached as government tries to keep sensitive information out of terrorist hands.  01.07.03

Thousands of documents in Danielle van Dam case to be released
But several hundred pages on various aspects of David Westerfield murder trial won't be.  01.07.03

Indiana high court halts sex-offender law
Justices say Indiana Civil Liberties Union, which is challenging statute, has established 'reasonable likelihood' of winning its case.  01.06.03

Catholic bishops challenge state's contraceptive law
New York State Catholic Conference calls law 'a governmental assault' that 'intrudes on any religion that does not share the goals and ideals of the abortion industry.'  01.06.03

N.M. inmate sues for right to practice Satanism
State lawsuit alleges prison officials took religious material from Michael Zunich’s cell, told him his religion was not practiced there.  01.06.03

Report: Texas law enforcement agencies frequently violate FOI law
Survey of 14 counties finds officers often respond to information requests with personal questions, ID requests, lectures about privacy.  01.06.03

Maine public-record audit finds police least cooperative
Law does not require citizens to identify themselves or explain why they want to see public records, but officials often asked auditors anyway.  01.05.03

Political parties ask that campaign-finance documents remain secret
News organizations say public has right to see evidence presented to court as it decides whether to strike down provisions of new law.  01.04.03

Lawyer trade publication can be distributed in Mississippi
Federal judge: American Lawyer Media's journals don't violate state law prohibiting out-of-state attorneys from advertising in the state.  01.04.03

Homeland Security office loses round in secrecy lawsuit
District Court ruling favors privacy group in its efforts to obtain records on proposed security programs.  01.03.03

Court TV gets go-ahead to broadcast Jayson Williams trial
Former NBA star is scheduled to go on trial Feb. 18 on charges of first-degree manslaughter, other offenses in connection with shooting death of limousine driver.  01.03.03

State appeals court trashes argument that littering is protected speech
California man, upset with school kids' litter in his neighborhood, dumped bags of trash at 1996 school board meeting.  01.03.03

Students fight suspensions over handing out candy canes
Massachusetts high school principal suspends seven, then delays the suspensions, for distributing candy with religious messages.  01.03.03

Missouri high court: Jurors' names should be public
Justices say names may stay secret only in cases where a judge finds a compelling reason.  01.02.03

Supreme Court justice intervenes in DVD dispute
Court could use case to decide how easy it will be for people to post software on the Internet that helps others copy movies.  01.02.03

S.C. 'Choose Life' plates held unconstitutional
Federal court judge's ruling may mean another anti-abortion license-plate case could be heading to U.S. Supreme Court.  01.02.03

Federal appeals panel upholds law protecting inmates' religious freedom
Judges back claim brought by Muslim prisoners under federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.  01.02.03

Georgia county denies liquor-license renewal for strip clubs
Two Athens clubs say ban violates their rights to free speech.  12.31.02

Defamation claim against Denver newspaper can go to trial
Man says Rocky Mountain News unfairly lumped him in with crime family.  12.30.02

Page last updated: 5/2/2013 4:33:41 AM