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Judge orders contract with conservative Catholic group for Baltimore rally
A federal judge has ordered the company that manages the MECU Pavilion in Baltimore to send a contract to the conservative Catholic group that plans to hold a protest during the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in November. “The parties need to get this done,” U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander said during a […]
Judge will not reconsider ruling to let gun rights activists sue arresting officer
A federal judge will not reconsider her decision permitting gun rights advocates arrested during a peaceful protest near the State House three years ago to sue the arresting Maryland Capitol Police officer for allegedly violating their constitutional rights to speak freely and be free of unreasonable seizure. Citing the state’s lack of diligence, U.S. District […]
Baltimore’s First Amendment dispute with Catholic group rests on incomplete contract
The lack of a completed contract remains an obstacle for the rally being planned by a conservative Roman Catholic organization in Baltimore.
Billboard firm hopes Ohio case helps high court challenge to Baltimore tax
A company mounting a constitutional challenge to Baltimore’s tax on commercial billboard operators hopes a recent Ohio high court decision striking down a similar Cincinnati assessment will convince the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its claim that the Maryland city’s tax violates the freedoms of speech and the press. In papers filed with the justices […]
Baltimore urges Supreme Court to reject billboard tax challenge
Baltimore’s tax on commercial billboard operators does not violate their constitutional right to free speech as the assessment applies regardless of the messages they post, the city argued last week in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to decline to hear an operator’s First Amendment challenge to the tax. Baltimore’s filing with the justices followed Clear […]
Barbera’s final term included First Amendment, lost pet, gangland slaying cases
Maryland’s top court ended its 2020-2021 session Tuesday having issued rulings upholding Baltimore’s billboard tax against a free-speech challenge, limiting the compensation available for a negligently killed pet over a heartfelt dissent for beloved dogs and rejecting the duress defense for a gangland murder, saying the threat of death goes with the violent lifestyle. The […]
Salisbury agency violated free speech by declining PETA’s ads, group alleges
The animal rights group PETA argues the Salisbury area transit agency violated its constitutional right to free speech by rejecting its request to post “Close the slaughterhouses” signs on public buses.
Foe of Hogan’s anti-BDS order assails loyalty ‘oath’ in 4th Circuit appeal
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive order requiring bidders on state contracts to forswear boycotting Israel reflects the early Cold War loyalty oaths forswearing Communism that the U.S. Supreme Court has deemed unconstitutional, a software engineer and would-be bidder who supports Israeli boycotts told a federal appeals court this month. Saqib Ali’s filing with the 4th […]
4th Circuit revives challenge to Maryland broadcast ban on criminal trial recordings
A federal appeals court has revived a freedom of the press challenge to Maryland’s statutory ban on the broadcasting of official court recordings of criminal proceedings.
4th Circuit rejects challenge to Maryland conversion therapy ban
A federal appeals court rejected on procedural grounds a psychotherapist’s free speech challenge to Maryland’s ban on treating youngsters with conversion therapy.
Frosh will appeal decision allowing protesters to sue arresting officer
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh will appeal a federal judge’s decision permitting gun rights advocates arrested during a peaceful protest near the State House three years ago to sue the arresting Maryland Capitol Police officer for allegedly violating their constitutional rights to speak freely and be free of unreasonable seizure. In papers to be […]
Gun rights activists can pursue claim against arresting officer, judge says
Gun rights advocates arrested by a Maryland Capitol Police officer during a peaceful protest near the State House three years ago can pursue their lawsuit alleging their constitutional rights to speak freely and be free of unreasonable seizure were violated, a federal judge has ruled. In sending the case toward trial, U.S. District Judge Stephanie […]
