Roethlisberger Media Coverage: A Refresher on the Presumption of Innocence.
Recently, the story of an accusation of sexual assault at a nightclub in a Georgia college town hit the news before there was any substantive news to hit. The fact that one of the participants was Ben Roethlisberger set off big time news coverage, despite the fact that no official accusation has been made by the police. No one has been arrested and no one has been charged.
ENCORE POST: Can You Name the Presidents Who Argued Before the US Supreme Court?
TO CELEBRATE OUR NEW LOOK, PITTSBURGH LEGAL BACK TALK IS REPRISING SOME OF THE BEST POSTS FROM THE LAST 18 MONTHS. THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN JULY 2009. CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY MIGHT EXPECT, WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, THE ONLY PRESIDENT TO ALSO HOLD THE OFFICE OF CHIEF JUSTICE, NEVER ARGUED BEFORE THE COURT. HOWEVER, ABRAHAM LINCOLN DID.
The Buzz About Google Buzz.
The introduction of Google Buzz, a new social media feature of gmail accounts, has raised privacy concerns. A Complaint filed with the FTC and a class action suit filed in California are the first shots fired in the battle.
Fifty Years Ago: Carolina Gentlemen Sit In.
On February 1, 1960 four black students “sat in” at a segregated lunch counter at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, NC. It was a historic event because it started a movement — one that only ended when its goal had been achieved. The International Civil Rights Center and Museum opened its doors today at the very building where the Woolworth’s lunch was located and where the Woolworth’s sign still hangs.
Its a New Game.
In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a 5-4 majority, held that the First Amendment did not permit Congress to punish citizens, or associations composed of citizens, for expressing political opinions and struck down provisions of the McCain-Feingold Act. The majority held that there there was no principled way to distinguish between political commentary on media such as Fox News and similar commentary from a non-media group or organization, including through blogs.
Speedy Trial Will Be a Key Issue for Terror Suspects.
Look for the terrorist speedy trial issue to end up in the Supreme Court a few years from now, probably after these and other cases have been consolidated.
Pittsburgh Legal Newslog:Third Circuit Upholds School Policy of Banning Religious Holiday Songs.
This holding may be good law, this Court had no choice in this case, but exclusively secular Christmas music isn’t worth much artistically. Its like hot chocolate without the chocolate.
Pittsburgh Legal Newslog: Supreme Court hears argument on whether warrantless state seizure of property violates due process.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle
Jurist, October 14, 2009.
Pittsburgh Legal Newslog: It Will Be Tent City at Point State Park Next Week.
US District Court Judge Gary Lancaster granted a portion of the First Amendment peaceful assembly request of the ACLU in connection with planned demonstrations during the G-20 conference next week.
Pittsburgh Legal Newslog: ACLU sues City of Pittsburgh over low number of protest permits issued for G-20, citing First Amendment.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle
Jurist, September 12, 2009.