Law Commons^™

Rethinking The Context Of Hate Speech Regulation, Robert Kahn

Robert Kahn

In this essay I review Michael Herz and Peter Molnar (eds.) The Content and Context of Hate Speech: Rethinking Regulation and Responses (Cambridge University Press 2012). As I show in the review, the Herz and Molnar volume advances our understanding of comparative hate speech regulation in three ways. First, the essays suggest that local context has a role to play in understanding, assessing, and applying hate speech regulations, even in an age when online hate speech is pressuring states and regions to reach common solutions to these problems. Second, the essays rebut the commonly held premise that the United States …

Does It Matter How One Opposes Memory Bans? A Commentary On Liberte Pour L'Histoire, Robert Kahn

Robert Kahn

This paper examines Liberté pour l'Histoire, a group of French historians who led the charge against that nation’s memory laws, in the process raising unique arguments not found elsewhere in the debate over hate speech regulation. Some of these arguments – such as a focus on how the constitutional structure of the Fifth Republic encouraged memory laws – advance our understanding of the connection between hate speech bans and political institutions. Other arguments, however, are more problematic. In particular, Liberté historians struggle to distinguish the Holocaust (which is illegal to deny) from the Armenian Genocide (which is not). The Liberté …

Flemming Rose's Rejection Of The American Free Speech Canon And The Poverty Of Comparative Constitutional Theory, Robert Kahn

Robert Kahn

In the fifteen page English language excerpt of his recent memoir The Tyranny of Silence, Danish publisher Flemming Rose gave an extended defense of his decision to run the cartoon images of the Prophet Mohammed. Current First Amendment doctrine almost certainly would treat this act as protected speech. But Rose barely mentions the First Amendment. Instead, he develops a highly personal theory of speech based on his experience in the Soviet Union and discussions with Salman Rushdie. Like many American legal academics Rose opposes bans on hate speech, but he does so for different reasons.

From a comparative law …

Tyranny Or Liberty? The Public Sector Union And The First Amendment, Emily A. Jackson-Hall

Emily A Jackson-Hall

What speech is fit for public consumption? What political speech? Thomas Paine said, "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." The First Amendment protects the right to speak by protecting us from laws which would silence us. “Congress shall make no law....abridging the freedom of speech...” A law which permits the government to pick and choose among speakers is dangerous. Preserving the right of your political opponents to voice their opinion is as critical as the fight …

Talking Chalk: Talking Chalk: Defacing The First Amendment In The Public Forum, Marie A. Failinger

Marie A. Failinger

Over the past few years, protesters have been arrested for chalking messages on public forum sidewalks. This article discusses why such arrests are discriminatory and violate the jurisprudence of, and values behind, the Speech Clause

The 2011-2012 Supreme Court Term: Decisions In Constitutional Law, Wilson Huhn

Wilson R. Huhn

This presentation reviews the principal decisions of the Supreme Court in the field of Constitutional Law during the 2011-2012 Term of Court. The presentation primarily focuses on the Court's decisions involving the Arizona immigration law (SB 1070), the federal Stolen Valor Act, the "ministerial exception" to the anti-discrimination laws, and above all the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Constitutional Combat: Is Fighting A Form Of Free Speech? The Ultimate Fighting Championship And Its Struggle Against The State Of New York Over The Message Of Mixed Martial Arts, Daniel A. Berger

Daniel A Berger

No abstract provided.

A Submission To The Senate Legal And Constitutional Committee On The Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011 (Cth), Matthew Rimmer

Matthew Rimmer

As an intellectual property expert, I am of the view that the much threatened litigation by the Tobacco Industry against the proposed plain packaging for tobacco products is somewhat vexatious.Both the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 (Cth) and the Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011 (Cth) are clearly within the Commonwealth's legislative power and capacity; and represent an effective means of implementing some of Australia's obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.At the outset, it is worth recalling that internal documents from British American Tobacco emphasized that 'current conventions & treaties afford little protection' for tobacco …

E-Elections: Time For Japan To Embrace Online Campaigning, Matthew J. Wilson

Matthew J. Wilson

Asia has embraced the Internet and social media. Japan and South Korea rank among the world’s leaders in technological innovation and Internet penetration. China boasts over 420 million Internet users, and other Asian countries have experienced the widespread acceptance of online technologies. With the rapid ascendency of the Internet and social media, however, Asian countries have sometimes struggled with striking the proper balance between individual rights and the legal regulation of online activities. One prime example of such struggle involves the clash between Japan’s election laws and individual political freedoms.

Although Japan generally subscribes to democratic traditions and the principle …

Freedom Of Speech In American & Spanish Law: A Comparative Perspective, Alfredo Coll

ALFREDO COLL

The Supreme Court of the United States, particularly in the area of obscenity within freedom of speech, has imposed stringent procedural requirements on governmental action aimed at controlling the exercise of first amendment rights. This study argues that several lessons can be learned from these cases: that a judicial body, following an adversary hearing, must decide on the protected character of the speech, and that the judicial determination must either precede or immediately follow any governmental action which restricts speech. The authors also compare and contrast free speech protection in the United States as compared to Spain by analyzing several …

Rules And Tools Of Nonprofit Lobbying, Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson

Abstract: This article focuses primarily on the federal tax law restrictions on lobbying and political campaign activities of 501( c)(3) organizations. A brief history of the restrictions on lobbying is followed by an instructional guide for nonprofit organizations and attorneys seeking to advise nonprofits about permissible conduct in this arena. Opportunities for greater political involvement through use of sec 501(h), sec 501©(4) and other strategies that have been deemed permissible by the Internal Revenue Service are explored. An examination of the IRS’s questionable annual examination process for nonprofits is explored.

Why Linguistics Matters To Law-Communism, Heaven, Princess, Prostitute, And Words That Should Not Result In Discrimination, James T. Struck

James T Struck

Language and linguistics is as important to law as judicial process, fees, oral argument, statutes and evidence. Words like communism, heaven, prostitute, princess are discussed to show that alternative meanings of words should not result in discrimination and loss of rights. Without understanding of alternative word meanings, people would not understand that different words are not harmful, destructive or dangerous

Identifying Government Speech, Andy G. Olree

Andy G Olree

The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the Speech Clause of the First Amendment to mean that when the government distributes money or other resources to private speakers, it generally may not discriminate among speakers based on viewpoint. The government is, however, allowed to express its own viewpoint, even if it enlists the aid of private parties to get the message out, as long as the communication does not violate some separate legal restriction, such as the Establishment Clause. Together, these understandings form the core of what has become known as the government speech doctrine. This doctrine signals that distinguishing between …

Cross Burning A Hate Speech Under The First Amendment To The United States Constitution, Wilson Huhn

Wilson R. Huhn

Under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, ‘hate speech’ is constitutionally protected unless the circumstances of the case indicate that the speaker intended to threaten violence or provoke an immediate act of violence. While a person may be removed from a classroom or fired from employment for engaging in ‘hate speech’, under the First Amendment a person may be charged with a crime only if their statements constitute a threat or provocation of immediate violence. Moreover, even in cases where it is clear that a person is threatening violence or that violence is imminent, the person …

Privacy And Funeral Protests, Christina E. Wells

Christina E. Wells

This article examines the free speech implications of funeral protest statutes. Enacted in response to protests by the Westboro Baptist Church, such statutes restrict a broad array of expressive activity, including peaceful protests. This article focuses on the states’ interest underlying such statutes – protecting mourners’ right to be free of unwanted intrusions while at funeral services. While few would argue against protecting funeral services from intrusive protests, these statutes go far beyond that notion. A careful examination reveals that the statutes are designed to protect mourners from offensive rather than intrusive protests. As such, they do not conceive of …

Privacy And Funeral Protests, Christina E. Wells

Christina E. Wells

This article examines the free speech implications of funeral protest statutes. Enacted in response to protests by the Westboro Baptist Church, such statutes restrict a broad array of expressive activity, including peaceful protests. This article focuses on the states’ interest underlying such statutes – protecting mourners’ right to be free of unwanted intrusions while at funeral services. While few would argue against protecting funeral services from intrusive protests, these statutes go far beyond that notion. A careful examination reveals that the statutes are designed to protect mourners from offensive rather than intrusive protests. As such, they do not conceive of …

The French 'Headscarves Ban': Intolerance Or Necessity ?, Reuven Ziegler

Dr. Reuven (Ruvi) Ziegler

The notion analyzed in the article is that a right can often be interpreted in contrasting terms in different countries, even if these countries are all signatories to the same human rights conventions and are considered to be western liberal democracies. Hence, the protection granted to a particular right is greatly affected by the fundamental tenets of the social framework in a given society. I substantiate my claim empirically by offering a critique of the recent 'headscarves ban' in French public schools. While the ban enjoys overwhelming public support in France, insisting that it protects the fabric of French society, …

Database Sui Generis Right: The Need To Take The Public's Right To Information And Freedom Of Expression Into Account, Estelle Derclaye

Estelle Derclaye

No abstract provided.

On Boy Scouts And Anti-Discrimination Law: The Associational Rights Of Quasi-Religious Organizations, Erez Reuveni

Erez Reuveni

This paper proposes a tripartite legal approach to analyzing the rights of private, expressive associations. Current law views private associations through a binary lens - either an organization is "religious," or it is "secular." But this dichotomy fails to account for organizations whose animating expressive purpose is both religious and secular. Using the Boy Scouts of America as a case study, this paper develops a third category of private associations, quasi-religious groups, and articulates why the category is necessary and how quasi-religious groups would fit within existing First Amendment jurisprudence. First, the article reviews numerous cases involving the Boy Scouts …