free speech Archives - Liberty Justice Center

free speech

Filter your results

Videos

Hart v. Facebook

The Liberty Justice Center is fighting back against free speech violations and censorship in Hart v. Facebook, a federal lawsuit filed against Facebook, Twitter, U.S. President Joe Biden and the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

Foley v. MassHealth

In January 2021, during the Coronavirus pandemic, Denise Foley, the Director of Internal and External Training and Communication, was terminated from her position at MassHealth after she used her personal Facebook account to criticize the practice, and encouragement, of turning in one’s neighbor for not...

Liberty Justice Center v. Grewal

In a federal lawsuit, the Liberty Justice Center is demanding New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal immediately abandon the state's disclosure requirements and align their requirements with the decision in Bonta, which shut down a nearly identical overbroad policy in California.

Liberty Justice Center v. James

On July 1, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the importance of donor privacy in protecting free speech in Americans for Prosperity v. Bonta. In that decision overturning California’s overreaching donor disclosure requirements, the justices delivered a win for the First Amendment, ensuring supporters of...

Taking Woke Education to Court — Real Clear Education

The following article by LJC attorney Daniel Suhr appeared on Real Clear Education on July 2, 2021 Free speech rights for students have always been a difficult issue because schools have unique needs and concerns. But whether it was black armbands to protest the Vietnam War or a picture...

Why Critical Race Theory in Schools is Becoming a Free Speech Issue

Critical race theory in schools is making headlines across the country, and every American, regardless of their viewpoint, needs to understand how CRT programs can impact students’ constitutional rights. Students’ First Amendment rights don’t stop at the schoolroom door.  Under the U.S. Constitution, every student—no...

Woke K-12 Education Goes to Court – Wall Street Journal

Represented by the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center, the parents and students sued the school board in federal court. They claim that Loudoun County Public Schools’ policies and programs to address “systemic racism” discriminate on the basis of race and viewpoint.

Menders v. Loudoun County School Board

A group of Loudoun County, Virginia parents filed a federal lawsuit against school leaders for denying their students equal treatment and violating their right to free speech. The parents say the children will be discriminated against for simply expressing their opinion, or worse, for the...

Indiana school superintendent illegally blocks parent on social media

To schedule an interview, contact Kristen Williamson at media@libertyjusticecenter.org or 773-809-4403. INDIANAPOLIS (June 2, 2021) — A Brownsburg, Indiana, mother has demanded the school district superintendent unblock her on social media, restoring her access to an important public forum. Kristin Ferklic has taken an active approach to education...

D.C. Mayor drops ban on wedding dancing after bride sues

The mayor of Washington D.C. announced today that she is lifting her ban on dancing at weddings. The announcement comes after a D.C.-area bride, Margaret Appleby, sued over the ban with the help of attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center and Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute.

Appleby v. Bowser

The District of Columbia currently allows dancing in exotic establishments, in Zumba and dance-studio classes, and in programs sponsored by the government’s Department of Parks and Recreation. However, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, on May 1, 2021, used her emergency executive...

Liberty Justice Center discusses #1AWarrior on Glenn Beck

Principal Thorne’s experience illustrates the dangers of cancel culture. Thorne warned his students that anyone’s voice can be cancelled for any reason by a small group of people. And Shelby County Schools silenced him for that.

4 Ways to Cancel “Cancel Culture”

If we don’t stop the tide of censorship, no one will. Conservative voices are under attack. The Left has fully weaponized “woke-ism” and is using it to take down people who hold mainstream opinions and values. What is “cancel culture?” It’s people being censored on...

Liberty Justice Center reacts to Hinsdale District 86 “Equity Statement”

Patrick Hughes, president and co-founder of the Liberty Justice Center, notified a large school district in an affluent Chicago suburb that its newly adopted “Equity Statement” was not only flawed but may lead to violations of students’ and teachers’ Constitutional rights. The statement pledges “coherent,...

Do we have to let unions interrupt the work day? – LJC Blog

A case battles between the First and Fifth Amendments   Early this year, LJC joined over a dozen other organizations in filing a friend of the court brief in support of California growers. The big question this case will answer: Is the right to organize...

Donor disclosure laws codify ‘cancel culture’ – LJC Blog

In many states, making a donation has a hidden price tag – your privacy, job and safety.   Across the nation, public support for candidates and causes has resulted in lost jobs and contracts, ruined reputations and even death threats.  In a culture that’s willing...

Thorne v. Shelby County Board of Education

Memphis-area principal Barton Thorne’s attorneys have filed a federal lawsuit against the district for violating his First Amendment and contractual rights for placing him on administrative leave for discussing current events and free speech with students.

Appeals court hears media access case against Evers – Wisconsin Public Radio

In MacIver Institute v. Evers, the Liberty Justice Center represents journalist Bill Osmulski and the John K. MacIver Institute. Osmulski was unconstitutionally excluded from the Governor of Wisconsin’s press conferences, media alerts and public events. The following article by Shamane Mills appeared on Wisconsin Public...

Order issued in Illinois Vote By Mail case

Late this afternoon a federal judge ruled in the lawsuit challenging Illinois’ new Vote By Mail program that ballot harvesting is illegal and political operatives cannot collect mass amounts of mail-in ballots and submit them to election authorities.

Lawsuit: Illinois Expanded Mail Voting is Partisan Scheme – AP News

"More than any other state in the nation, Illinois has a track record of both corruption and incompetence – and its residents have no reason to believe that the government can conduct an honest and accurate vote-by-mail in the upcoming election," Sean Morrison, chairman of...

Cook County Republican Party v. Pritzker

"Vote early and vote often" is a tongue-in-cheek joke for many Chicagoans, but Illinois' new Vote By Mail program brings up new concerns for the notoriously corrupt and mismanaged state.

Republicans to appeal judge’s ruling on Gov. Pritzker’s gatherings ban

“Today’s order is disappointing but we are confident in our argument in favor of political parties’ right to equal treatment to exercise their First Amendment rights. We are immediately appealing the decision,” said Patrick Hughes, president and co-founder of the Liberty Justice Center.

Illinois Right to Life v. Pritzker

Illinois Gov. Pritzker willingly excuses certain organizations and First Amendment expressions from the limits in his executive orders, but not the rest of Illinois – including Illinois Right to Life.

Illinois Right to Life sues over ban on gatherings

To schedule an interview, contact media@libertyjusticecenter.org or 773-809-4403. CHICAGO (June 24, 2020) — Illinois Right to Life, the state’s largest nonprofit, pro-life organization, has filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker over his limits on gatherings and overreach of his executive powers. Illinois Right to...

Illinois GOP Sues Gov. Pritzker Over Ban on Large Gatherings – WTTW News

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker challenges Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker’s ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. The lawsuit highlights the arbitrary nature of the Executive Order as some groups can gather while other groups face restrictions. The lawsuit petitions the court to allow...

GOP Sues Pritzker Seeking Exemption From 10-Person Limit – AP News

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker challenges Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker’s ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. The lawsuit highlights the arbitrary nature of the Executive Order as some groups can gather while other groups face restrictions. The lawsuit petitions the court to allow...

Illinois GOP Sue Over State’s Ten-Person Gathering Cap – Bloomberg Law

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker challenges Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker’s ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. The lawsuit highlights the arbitrary nature of the Executive Order as some groups can gather while other groups face restrictions. The lawsuit petitions the court to allow...

Republicans sue Pritzker over ban on gatherings

The Illinois Republican Party and three local Republican party committees have filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker over his ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker

This lawsuit highlights the selectivity and arbitrary nature of Pritzker’s Executive Order regarding group gatherings. While Gov. Pritzker grants carve-outs to organizations he likes, other groups are limited to gatherings of 10 people.

Salem Media of Illinois, LLC v. Pritzker

Beginning in March 2020, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker held daily press conferences to update and answer questions from news media regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Jacobson has been a regular and active participant in the Governor’s COVID-19 press conferences. Amy Jacobson is a veteran reporter who has...

Coming for the Lawyers – National Review

(Feb. 20, 2020) Charles Dickens recited a familiar complaint about lawyers in Bleak House when he wrote, “The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself.”

Rio Grande Foundation v. Oliver

In New Mexico, if you want to support a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that works on issues, such as free speech or the environment, you must be willing to forfeit your privacy. State law requires all nonprofit issue-advocacy groups to report their donors to the government....

The Gaspee Project v. Mederos

Every American should feel free to speak out and support causes they believe in, without fear of retribution or retaliation. But in Rhode Island, speaking up comes at a price: your privacy. State law requires anyone who donates more than $1,000 to a nonpartisan, issue...

Illinois Opportunity Project v. Holden

In June 2019, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a proposal known as S150. The law places reporting and disclosure requirements on 501(c)4 and 527 advocacy groups, but not on business groups or unions. The organizations identified by the law must now register...

Illinois Opportunity Project v. Bullock

Americans’ right to support causes they believe in without fear of retaliation is at the center of Illinois Opportunity Project v. Bullock filed August 27, 2019, against Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and the head of that state’s procurement bureau. In 2018, Governor Bullock issued an...

MacIver Institute v. Evers

Bill Osmulski is a seasoned Capitol news reporter for the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and news service based in Madison, Wisconsin. As credentialed members of the Capitol press corps, Osmulski and other MacIver News Service reporters regularly have...

Dan Proft v. Kwame Raoul

Individuals, corporations, unions and political parties can give unlimited amounts of money to political candidates, but independent expenditure groups cannot, creating an uneven playing field.

Judge: Cannabis Companies Can Make Campaign Contributions – Associated Press

Mar. 31, 2017 Illinois’ medical marijuana companies, operating in an industry abounding with rules, now have one less regulation they have to follow. The Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/2optGrA) reports that a federal judge ruled last week that a provision preventing cannabis companies from making campaign contributions...

Ball v. Madigan

Victory! A federal court struck down an Illinois law that banned political contributions by legal medical marijuana businesses.