first amendment

Mar 20, 2023

ChatGPT passes bar exam

Today is Monday, the 207th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Hunter v. Martin’s Lessee in which the justices held they have the authority to review state court rulings interpreting the U.S. Constitution or federal law. Here are some other news items. — ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence wunderkind, passes the Uniform Bar Examination. […]

Feb 14, 2023

What the First Amendment really says — 4 basic principles of free speech

Elon Musk has claimed he believes in free speech no matter what. He calls it a bulwark against tyranny in America and promises to reconstruct Twitter, which he now owns, so that its policy on free expression “matches the law.” Yet his grasp of the First Amendment – the law that governs free speech in […]

Feb 1, 2023

Chamber of Commerce wages federal appeal of Md. digital ad tax

A national business organization is pressing a federal appeal of Maryland’s tax on digital advertising while online advertisers have mounted a so-far successful challenge in state court.

Jan 23, 2023

Md. Supreme Court will weigh constitutionality of digital advertising tax

The Maryland Supreme Court will consider whether the state’s tax on digital advertising violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

Dec 27, 2022

Judge denies injunction that would have given speedier access to lawsuits filed in Maryland

A federal judge has declined to issue a preliminary injunction that would have required immediate public access to civil complaints filed in Maryland courts.

Dec 12, 2022

Maryland’s ban on broadcasting court recordings violates First Amendment, judge rules

A federal judge has handed a victory to a group who argued that Maryland's ban on broadcasting legally obtained recordings of court hearings violated the First Amendment.

Dec 8, 2022

Court upholds UM murder conviction, OKs racist meme evidence

A Maryland appeals court Wednesday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a white man who stabbed to death a Black U.S. Army 2nd lieutenant at the University of Maryland five years ago, saying the jury was validly permitted to hear evidence that the killer belonged to a neo-Nazi group and stored racially offensive memes on […]

Nov 29, 2022

Judge to decide if federal challenge to Maryland’s digital ad tax can continue

A federal challenge to Maryland's first-in-the-nation digital advertising tax is in limbo after a state court found the tax unconstitutional last month.

Oct 17, 2022

Judge strikes down Md.’s digital advertising tax as unconstitutional

An Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge struck down Maryland’s tax on digital advertising.

Oct 13, 2022

Abortion opponent files First Amendment lawsuit over Baltimore sign regulations

A Maryland man who seeks to discourage abortions outside a Planned Parenthood in Baltimore is suing over the city's signage rules.

Jul 25, 2022

Supreme Court sketch artist says his term has ended

Today is Monday, the 32nd anniversary of Roseanne Barr’s infamous rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Here are some other news items. — The aptly named Art Lien puts down his Supreme Court sketch pad. — Former U.S. Justice Department lawyer faces Trump-related ethics charges. — Federal judge calls North Carolina law against false campaign […]

Jul 12, 2022

Another federal appeals court upholds right to record police

People have a right protected by the First Amendment to film police while they work, a federal appeals court ruled.

Networking Calendar

Submit an entry for the business calendar

MY ACCOUNT