"Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court is scheduled to tackle some key cases in its 2014-15 term, which starts Monday.
More than three dozen appeals are currently on the docket. Perhaps three dozen more are expected to be added in coming months. The caseload for the term is usually settled by February, with the term effectively ending in late June.
Other important appeals that may yet be added cover such issues as same-sex marriage, affirmative action, abortion rights and further litigation over President Obama's health care reform law."
Here's an example of one pending case to be heard soon:
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| Anthony Elonis |
AT ISSUE: The limits of policing "speech crimes" in the Internet age, especially laws aimed at protecting those harassed or bullied online. What is the level of proof needed to convict someone of making criminal threats?
THE CASE: Anthony Elonis was convicted in federal court for threatening language in Facebook posts aimed at his estranged wife, judges and law enforcement. Some were expressed as rap lyrics, which Elonis said were "therapeutic" for dealing with emotional pain. But prosecutors said he crossed a dangerous free speech line.
THE ARGUMENTS: Elonis' lawyers argue that the government did not prove that his statements showed a "subjective intent to threaten," based on Supreme Court precedent. But the Justice Department replied that his online comments were serious in nature, not a case of "careless talk, exaggeration, something said in a joking manner or an outburst of transitory anger."
THE IMPACT: A ruling here could have broader implications for free speech amid the explosion of popular and often anonymous social media. Are sites like Twitter in the same category as more conventional news links, and are general threats made online different from those made in person?"
Source: CNN 10/3/2014
Freedom of Speech is a protected right to all citizens of the United States of America. This makes me think of the old saying, sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. If he had followed through on his threat it would have been a different subject all together. Do we really want to open that can of worms and start revoking rights given to us over 300 years ago by our founding fathers??
ReplyDeleteBrittanie
Dennis Smith,
ReplyDeleteI feel people should reap what they sew. Meaning that if you say something to offend someone else then you should take the consequences of your actions. In this day of age we have so many social networks out there, and people seem to think it’s alright to badger people so others can see it. I feel you should speak your mind but be an adult about it. Don’t write blogs for others to see if you are downing some one else. I feel that if you put something on a social network that offends another person, then you should have some sort of consequence because they have to deal with the repercussions of your word and they shouldn’t have to.
Thanks for your comments!
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