All articles tagged with #first amendment
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., voided key parts of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s revised policy restricting press access to the Pentagon, ruling the curtailment of First Amendment rights unlawful and ordering the Pentagon to fully restore Times reporters’ access and file a sworn compliance declaration by April 16; the Defense Department plans to appeal.
A department-wide Easter message from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, praising Easter and Christian themes, sparked internal backlash among USDA’s roughly 100,000 employees and a formal complaint to the Office of Special Counsel alleging establishment of religion; USDA defends the email as lawful, while critics say government resources should not promote a specific religion, with the Freedom From Religion Foundation also filing complaints. The incident highlights ongoing debates about the role of faith in federal communications and policy.
A federal judge voided the Defense Department's renewed press restrictions at the Pentagon, ruling they unlawfully curtailed media access and mirrored an earlier unconstitutional policy; the department plans to appeal as press access remains contested.
Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs went before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to overturn his 50‑month Mann Act sentence, arguing the trial judge erred by relying on evidence of fraud and sexual coercion that a jury had acquitted and by treating his ‘freak offs’ recordings as protected by the First Amendment. Prosecutors countered that the challenged conduct was still relevant to the prostitution counts for which Combs was convicted. The court could uphold, order a new sentencing hearing, or overturn the conviction entirely; Combs, who is imprisoned at Fort Dix, has had his release date shuffled and the appeal leaves his status unresolved.
A Washington federal judge blocked parts of Trump’s 2025 executive order to defund NPR and PBS, ruling the move unconstitutional retaliation that violated the First Amendment press freedoms; the injunction prevents the funding cuts while NPR and PBS pursue their lawsuit.
The Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, ruled that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youths may violate the First Amendment and sent the case back to a lower court to apply a stricter standard, with dissenters warning about implications for healthcare regulation.
The Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, ruled that states cannot use licensing power to ban licensed professionals from discussing topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity with patients, effectively striking down bans on conversion therapy. Justice Jackson dissented, warning the ruling could impede states’ ability to regulate medical care. The decision touches on ongoing LGBT rights debates and precedes upcoming cases on transgender issues in sports.
The Supreme Court, in an 8‑1 decision written by Justice Gorsuch, ruled that Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors must be reviewed under strict scrutiny rather than the lower rational-basis standard, sending the case back to a lower court and likely leading to the law’s invalidation. The ruling drew praise from religious-liberty groups and sharp pushback from LGBTQ advocates, and arrived on Transgender Day of Visibility with dissents warning of potential harms.
A federal judge grilled the Pentagon over its latest press restrictions during a hearing, following a court order that blocked the policy; the Pentagon curtailed access by shutting the Correspondents’ Corridor and routing reporters to a different escorted area, prompting The New York Times to sue and argue the move violates the First Amendment. The judge gave government lawyers until Tuesday to respond to the Times’ complaints, and had previously ordered NYT Pentagon reporters’ passes reinstated in a March ruling.
A federal judge pressed the Pentagon over its new press-access policy after previously striking down an older version that vastly restricted reporters’ access, signaling concern that the interim rules—such as restricted hallway access, a shuttle option, a planned annex, and potential credential revocation for asking unapproved questions—could still violate the First Amendment. Defense officials argued the changes reduce leaks and improve security, while the Times urged swift restoration of access as the court considers the policy, with the judge requesting written responses by Tuesday.
A federal judge criticized parts of the Pentagon's revamped press policy as 'weird' and Kafkaesque, partially striking down the old policy while considering the New York Times' bid to force compliance after its reporters had their credentials revoked; the hearing focused on access to press space, escorted entry, and the potential chilling effect of anonymity provisions, with the government arguing the policy aims to curb leaks and journalists contending it infringes First Amendment rights. A ruling on the Times' motion remains pending and the court asked for a briefing on the policy's legal basis.
Jane Fonda led a Committee for the First Amendment rally near the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., criticizing Trump-era media mergers and warning that consolidation threatens free expression, independent journalism, and access to cultural content, with performers and journalists including Joan Baez and Jim Acosta in attendance.
Outside the Kennedy Center, Jane Fonda and Joan Baez helped lead a protest by artists denouncing censorship and what they called the Trump administration’s growing influence over American culture, during an event titled Artists United for Our Freedom; the White House responded by defending the administration’s cultural efforts and dismissing critics.
Jane Fonda headlines a rally outside Washington’s Kennedy Center urging Americans to defend free speech amid criticisms of a Trump-era crackdown on the arts and media, highlighting book bans, defunding, and censorship as threats to the First Amendment.
A federal judge blocked the Pentagon from designating Anthropic as a 'supply chain risk' and paused President Trump's order to cease federal use of Anthropic's Claude, ruling the moves likely unlawful and a First Amendment retaliation, with a seven‑day stay to allow an appeal.