Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Missouri School of Law

Journal

Freedom of speech

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Law

Speech As Speech: “Professional Speech” And Missouri’S Informed Consent For Abortion Statute, Michael J. Essma Apr 2019

Speech As Speech: “Professional Speech” And Missouri’S Informed Consent For Abortion Statute, Michael J. Essma

Missouri Law Review

Does life begin at conception? Do women need to see a sonogram to make an informed decision about whether they want an abortion? Some state legislatures believe so. Laws mandating politically driven doctor-patient dialogue affect one of the hallmarks of the physician-patient relationship: a patient’s trust in the physician’s expertise. The common law and statutory requirement that a patient provide informed consent for a medical procedure facilitates the development of trust between patient and physician by allowing the patient to understand the procedure and discuss her options with her physician. However, provisions of abortion-specific informed consent statutes that require physicians …


Social Networking And Freedom Of Speech: Not Like Old Times , Zachary Shklar Apr 2013

Social Networking And Freedom Of Speech: Not Like Old Times , Zachary Shklar

Missouri Law Review

In Bland v. Roberts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was presented with the issue of whether “liking” a page on Facebook is speech protectable by the First Amendment. This Note argues that the court’s holding, that “liking” something on Facebook is not worthy of First Amendment protection, is a disturbing result that endangers one of our most fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. In Part II, this Note analyzes the facts and holding of Bland v. Roberts. Next, in Part III, this Note describes in detail how Facebook operates and explains the legal background …


How Not To Criminalize Cyberbullying, Lyrissa Lidsky, Andrea Pinzon Garcia Jun 2012

How Not To Criminalize Cyberbullying, Lyrissa Lidsky, Andrea Pinzon Garcia

Missouri Law Review

This essay provides a sustained constitutional critique of the growing body of laws criminalizing cyberbullying. These laws typically proceed by either modernizing existing harassment and stalking laws or crafting new criminal offenses. Both paths are beset with First Amendment perils, which this essay illustrates through 'case studies' of selected legislative efforts. Though sympathetic to the aims of these new laws, this essay contends that reflexive criminalization in response to tragic cyberbullying incidents has led law-makers to conflate cyberbullying as a social problem with cyberbullying as a criminal problem, creating pernicious consequences. The legislative zeal to eradicate cyberbullying potentially produces disproportionate …


Laying To Rest The Ecclesiastical Presumption Of Falsity: Why The Missouri Approved Instructions Should Include Falsity As An Element Of Defamation, J. Andrew Hirth Apr 2004

Laying To Rest The Ecclesiastical Presumption Of Falsity: Why The Missouri Approved Instructions Should Include Falsity As An Element Of Defamation, J. Andrew Hirth

Missouri Law Review

This Note explores the origens of the plaintiff's presumption of falsity and argues that, after Nazeri v. Missouri Valley College, the burden of proving falsity must be borne by the plaintiff in every case.


Antidiscrimination Laws And The First Amendment, David E. Bernstein Jan 2001

Antidiscrimination Laws And The First Amendment, David E. Bernstein

Missouri Law Review

Part I of this Article discusses the development of Supreme Court doctrine regarding First Amendment challenges to the enforcement of antidiscrimination laws. Part II discusses attempted justifications by courts and academics for applying the toothless compelling interest test in conflicts between the First Amendment and antidiscrimination laws. Rationales have ranged from Congress’ purported intent to eradicate discrimination by passing Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to the anti-caste attributes of the Reconstructions Amendments. All of these arguments fail. Also examined is the threat reliance on the compelling interest test posed to the rights of speech, expressive association, and …


Promises Of Confidentiality: Do Reporters Really Have To Keep Their Word, Harold B. Oakley Jun 1992

Promises Of Confidentiality: Do Reporters Really Have To Keep Their Word, Harold B. Oakley

Missouri Law Review

In an industry in which information is the ultimate commodity, a new dilemma that confronts the media world is whether the First Amendment protects news gatherers from sources who try to enforce promises of confidentiality. The debate raised in Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. pits the First Amendment freedoms of the press and speech against concepts of contracts and torts that are deeply rooted in our legal heritage. At least two reasons make promises of confidentiality important to the newsgathering profession. First, breaking a promise of confidentiality that has induced a source to provide information is dishonorable. Second, sources may …