First Amendment

What’s On Their Minds? Teacher Termination: First Amendment Violation or Inappropriate Injection of Christian Beliefs into Science Class? Freshwater v. Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education.

By Marianna Bettman on March 4, 2013

For additional information on the issues raised in this case, read this In Sharper Focus Guest Post

On February 27, 2013, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of Freshwater v. Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education, 2012-0613. The case involves the firing of a public school science teacher. He…

Of Funerals, Protests, and Hate Speech

By Marianna Bettman on April 6, 2011

In Snyder v. Phelps (pdf), the U.S. Supreme Court shielded the Westboro Baptist Church from tort liability for its hateful picketing.

“G-d Hates Fags.” “You’re Going to Hell.” “Thank G-d for Dead Soldiers.” “G-d Hates the USA/Thank G-d for 9/11.” These are a few of the hateful signs carried by picketers from the Westboro…