Vermont man arrested for flipping trooper the bird awarded $175,000 in settlement
A Vermont man arrested after allegedly giving a state trooper the middle finger reached a $175,000 settlement, according to the American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday, June 26. The ACLU said a state trooper pulled over Gregory Bombard following accusations that he had made the gesture, which Bombard denies, and an argument soon ensued.
During the incident in 2018, Bombard repeatedly denied giving the trooper the middle finger, which then led to his arrest after the officer accused him of cursing at him. The trooper claimed he was placing him in custody because of “disorderly conduct.”
“Police need to respect everyone’s First Amendment rights — even for things they consider offensive or insulting,” said Hillary Rich, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Vermont.
The ACLU of Vermont and Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression or “FIRE,” filed the lawsuit on behalf of Bombard. They argued that the trooper had violated Bombard’s First Amendment rights of free speech and also his Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 26, Bombard said that he was pleased with the settlement and hopes it will lead to better training for troopers to “avoid silencing criticism or make baseless car stops.”
The lawsuit was brought against the state of Vermont and the state trooper involved in the 2018 stop. However, as part of the settlement, the defendants did not admit guilt.
Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with US government
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a plea deal with the Justice Department. And a historic space mission by China brings back samples from the far side of the moon. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with U.S. government
A legal case that spanned nearly 15 years is scheduled to be resolved Tuesday, June 25, when WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleads guilty to violating U.S. espionage law. Assange left a British prison Monday, June 24, where he has spent the last five years, and boarded a plane headed for the Northern Marina Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific. The plane made a stop in Bangkok to refuel.
According to court documents, Assange has agreed to a plea deal with the U.S. government, where he will plead guilty to a single charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disclose classified national defense documents. Charges against him stem from the release of classified information more than a decade ago, including reports on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Assange is expected to be sentenced to the five years already served, sparing him from additional prison time. He is then expected to return to his home country of Australia to be joined by his wife, Stella, and two children.
"Journalism should be more like science. As far as possible, facts should be verifiable.
If journalists want long-term credibility for their profession, they have to go in that direction. Have more respect for readers." – Julian Assange #LetHimGoJoepic.twitter.com/c0JdgYlzIE
Assange’s wife told Reuters the couple will be seeking a pardon.
“Of course, I mean, I think that the correct course of action from the U.S. government should have been to drop the case entirely,” Stella Assange said. “We will be seeking a pardon obviously, but the fact that there is a guilty plea under the Espionage Act in relation to obtaining and disclosing national defense information is obviously a very serious concern for journalists and national security journalists in general.”
Prosecutors said the Northern Marina Islands was chosen for the location of the hearing because of its proximity to Australia and that Julian Assange had opposed to traveling to the U.S. mainland.
The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, local time, which is 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 EDT.
Hunter Biden’s attorneys request new trial
Hunter Biden is seeking a new trial. Less than two weeks after his conviction on federal gun charges, attorneys for the president’s son have requested a new trial, saying his convictions should be vacated because the trial started before a circuit court had formally denied his appeal.
They argue that means the Delaware court that tried him did not have jurisdiction.
Hunter Biden was found guilty earlier this month on three federal charges related to buying a gun while being a drug user.
In a separate filing Monday, Hunter Biden’s lawyers argue the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a federal ban on firearms for people under domestic violence restraining orders supports their motion for an acquittal or “at a minimum” a new trial.
His attorneys said because Hunter Biden never acted violently toward anyone or misused the gun, the charges against him are unconstitutional.
Bankruptcy trustee plans to shut down Alex Jones’ ‘Inforwars’
A federal bankruptcy court trustee is planning to shut down Alex Jones’ media company “Infowars.” The plan is to sell it off to pay for Jones’ $1.5 billion settlement he owes to families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Massacre.
The move comes weeks after a federal judge in Texas ruled to liquidate Jones’ personal assets but did not determine the fate of “Infowars.” Jones used the platform to say the 2012 shooting that left 20 children and six educators dead “was all a hoax.”
The trustee also asked a judge to put an immediate hold on the efforts by some of the Sandy Hook families to collect the massive amount Jones owes them. The trustee said that would interfere with his plans to close “Infowars’” parent company, Free Speech Systems, and sell off its assets — with much of the proceeds going to the families.
Parents sue over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments in schools law
Parents in Louisiana are suing their state’s education department and local school boards over the new law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools. They said it’s unconstitutional.
In court filings, the nine families — backed by civil liberties groups — argue the law “substantially interferes with and burdens” their First Amendment right to raise their kids in whichever religion they want.
Louisiana governor defends 10 Commandments in schools mandate: 'The US is founded on Judeo-Christian values' https://t.co/3z2aKPOeIi
Under the new law, signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, R, on June 19, a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments would have to be displayed in all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities in Louisiana.
The families are seeking an order to stop that from happening.
2 federal judges block key parts of Biden student debt forgiveness plan
Two federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have blocked key aspects of President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan that lowers payments. The Monday June 24 rulings will stop the Biden administration from any further implementation of its SAVE program.
The plan — which ties how much someone pays each month to what their income is — has been in place for almost a year.
New: Today, two judges in two different suits halted Biden's SAVE plan—the student debt repayment plan that would cancel some debt + cut some borrowers' payments in half—effective in July.
This means the second phase of the plan, which would’ve reduced monthly payments from 10% of a borrower’s discretionary income to 5%, is on pause. So is any further cancellation of debt for people who took out smaller initial loan payments and have been paying for 10-plus years.
However, the 8 million people who are already enrolled can keep using the SAVE plan until the cases are fully litigated.
China’s Chang’e 6 brings back samples from far side of the moon
After 53-days, China’s Chang’e 6 became the first mission to successfully bring samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth. The return capsule landed in China just after 2 p.m. local time Monday.
China’s Chang’e 6 moon probe has landed back on Earth after a 53-day journey, bringing with it the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon. pic.twitter.com/GndMDlVBbJ
The capsule is expected to contain around two kilograms of moon dust and rocks to be analyzed by Chinese researchers and then by international scientists.
China’s successful mission is the latest achievement in the modern space race. The U.S. is set to send to astronauts back on the moon as early as 2026, while China plans on doing the same by 2030.
Panthers win first Stanley Cup, defeat Oilers 2-1 in Game 7
They say there’s nothing like a Game 7 in sports — and hockey fans got to experience a memorable one Monday night. The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
The Panthers were able to stop the momentum of the Edmonton Oilers, who fought back after being down three games to none to force a Game 7.
After losing the last three games, the Panthers rebounded, defeating the Oilers 2-1.
Despite being on the losing team, the Oilers’ Connor McDavid was named the postseason’s MVP. But it was the Panthers who got to hoist the Stanley Cup trophy over their heads in front of their home fans.
Louisiana law requires public classrooms to display Ten Commandments
Louisiana becomes the first state to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public classrooms. And the prehistoric landmark Stonehenge was defaced by climate activists. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Louisiana law requires public classrooms to display Ten Commandments
Louisiana’s governor has signed a law that makes the state the first in the nation to require all public classrooms to display a copy of the Ten Commandments. That legislation is already getting pushback from several civil rights groups.
The law says all public classrooms from kindergarten to college must display the Ten Commandments on a poster or framed document by the start of 2025. The displays must also feature a statement on how the Ten Commandments have been a “prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries.”
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said the law is aimed to bring “drastic reform” to the education system and “common sense back” to the classroom.
“This bill mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom in public, elementary, secondary, and post education schools in the state of Louisiana,” Landry said. “Because if you want to respect the rule of law, you got to start from the original lawgiver, which was Moses.”
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, have vowed to sue, calling the law “unconstitutional.”
In its criticism of the law, the ACLU cited a 1980 Supreme Court decision where the justices ruled a similar law in Kansas violated the First Amendment’s “establishment clause.” That clause is intended to prevent government from preferring one religion over others.
3 dead in Mexico; Texas issues disaster declaration due to tropical storm
The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has already turned deadly. Mexican authorities reported three deaths from Tropical Storm Alberto’s rains.
Alberto — which is bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and some flooding along the coasts of Texas and Mexico — is expected to make landfall in northern Mexico early Thursday. Once it does, forecasters expect it to weaken rapidly before moving inland.
Parts of Mexico are expected to see up to 20 inches of rain with this storm and Texas’ coast could see up to 15 inches. Flooding has already become a problem for coastal areas like Corpus Christi.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, has issued a disaster declaration in 51 counties to ensure “at-risk regions have the resources and personnel needed to respond to this storm.”
95% of power restored in Ecuador after nationwide blackout
Power has been almost fully restored in Ecuador after a nationwide blackout left millions in the dark Wednesday, June 19. The blackout affected hospitals, homes and a major subway system.
The country’s public infrastructure minister said in a post on X Wednesday, June 19, the outage was caused by maintenance and transmission issues in the country’s electrical system. The minister stressed the outage could have been avoided if the country had invested more in its infrastructure.
Ecuador has been struggling with an energy crisis for years. In April, the president declared an energy emergency, ordering eight-hour nationwide electricity cuts.
Deal reached to allow Dali crew members to go home
A deal has been reached with the City of Baltimore and the owner of the Dali cargo ship that would allow crew members who remain on the ship to leave the U.S. and go home, according to court documents. They’ve been stuck on the ship since March 26, when it lost power leaving Baltimore Harbor and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and killing six people.
Eight of the crew members, all from India and Sri Lanka, had been cleared to go home as early as Thursday, June 20. But on Tuesday, June 18, attorneys for the City of Baltimore filed a lawsuit looking to keep them in the U.S. amid ongoing investigations into what led up to the deadly collapse.
Getty Images
A hearing on the matter had been scheduled for Thursday morning, but Wednesday night, June 19, the city’s attorneys sent a letter to the judge saying all sides reached a compromise and the Dali’s owner and managing company have agreed to make sure the crew members return for deposition if needed.
Climate activists target Taylor Swift’s private jets Stonehenge
Climate activists with the group “Just Stop Oil” targeted the private jets of Taylor Swift in a British airport Thursday, June 20, spraying them with orange paint as the pop superstar is set to perform in London this weekend. Swift has been criticized in the past for her use of private jets.
The two activists were arrested — just a day after a similar protest by the group at Britain’s iconic landmark Stonehenge, where visitors to the site jumped in to try to stop them.
The protesters in both instances are calling on the British government to take action on climate change. They’re demanding Britain’s next government phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
The group said the paint used was made of an “orange cornflour” and washes away in the rain.
English Heritage, the charity that manages Stonehenge, told The BBC the paint has been cleaned off and there appears to be no lasting damage.
The protest came as thousands were expected to visit the site to witness the sunrise on the first day of summer.
Snapchat Inc. agrees to pay $15M to settle discrimination lawsuit
The parent company of the popular social media app Snapchat has agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against female employees. A three-year investigation by the California Civil Rights Department found Snapchat discouraged women from applying for promotions, failed to prevent sexual harassment in the office and retaliated against those who spoke out through negative performance reviews and termination.
The settlement covers employees who worked for the California company from 2014 to this year.
Snapchat said while it disagrees with the claims, it decided to settle to avoid costly and lengthy litigation.
Netflix to open brick-and-mortar entertainment venues
Netflix is moving away from the digital space for its next venture. The company has announced it is planning to open two brick-and-mortar entertainment destinations in the U.S.
Called Netflix House, the venues will feature various in-person experiences catered to fans of the streaming platform. Netflix says visitors will be able to walk through a replica of the “Bridgerton” set, compete in a challenge from “Squid Game,” and eat at a restaurant with food inspired by its shows.
The two Netflix houses will be located at shopping malls in Dallas, Texas and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
ACLU sues Biden administration over new asylum rule
The Biden administration is facing its first lawsuit over President Joe Biden’s recent order temporarily shutting down the U.S.’ southern border. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups, is the first big challenge to the executive order put in place just over a week ago.
The restrictions bar migrants from seeking asylum when border encounters rise above 2,500 per day.
In its first week implemented, the number of migrants crossing has fallen by 25%, according to Department of Homeland Security officials. However, the number of migrants coming over is still more than the number allowed — about 3,000 per day.
The executive action was meant to make illegal border crossers ineligible for asylum, but officials say thousands of migrants a day are still being released into the U.S. because of “limited options.”
The lawsuit did not seek an emergency injunction to block the new rule, so it will stay in place while the challenge plays out in court.
Attorney General Merrick Garland held in contempt of Congress
The head of the Department of Justice, Attorney General Merrick Garland, held in contempt of Congress. And “life-threatening” flooding in south Florida as more torrential rain is expected Thursday. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, June 13, 2024.
Attorney General Merrick Garland held in contempt of Congress
In an effort led by Republicans, the U.S. House voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress Wednesday, June 12. Lawmakers also voted to refer the top Department of Justice official for criminal charges.
It comes after Garland refused to turn over audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interviews with former special counsel Robert Hur as part of the probe over his handling of classified documents.
The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with only one Republican, Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, voting against it.
The vote marks a major escalation in a months-long dispute over the recordings — which started after President Biden asserted executive privilege over the files. The DOJ has stood by the decision not to release the recordings, saying they’ve already provided transcripts.
DOJ officials wrote in an affidavit the transcripts accurately match the audio “except for minor instances” — like leaving out filler words or when words were repeated when spoken.
House Republicans argue the recordings are crucial to their impeachment inquiry into the president, which has stalled.
“He is refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said of AG Garland. “And that’s a problem under Article I. We have to defend the Constitution. We have to defend the authority of Congress. We can’t allow the Department of Justice, an executive branch agency, to hide information from Congress. We have important oversight responsibilities, and that is what is being pursued here.”
Attorney General Garland responded to the decision to hold him in contempt late Wednesday night saying, “It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon. Today’s vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Department’s need to protect its investigations and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the committees.”
U.S. and Ukraine set to sign 10-year security pact at G7 summit
President Joe Biden is in Italy Thursday, June 13, for the G7 summit, where he is expected to sign a 10-year bilateral security pact with Ukraine. This agreement is said to better strengthen the long-term security relationship between the two nations, with commitments to continue training Ukrainian armed forces, enhance weapons production cooperation and increase intelligence sharing.
The G7 leaders are also set to endorse a plan to provide Ukraine with $50 billion in loans, using frozen Russian assets to fund the initiative.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan mentioned that while the major aspects of the plan have been agreed upon, some details will still need to be finalized.
Additionally, on Wednesday, June 12, the U.S. expanded its sanctions against Moscow to include Chinese companies that supply semiconductors. This move aims to pressure Beijing over its support for Russia and address issues of industrial overcapacity.
The summit will also address other critical global issues, including the Middle East, migration and artificial intelligence.
ACLU sues Biden administration over new asylum rule
The Biden administration is facing its first lawsuit over President Joe Biden’s recent order temporarily shutting down the U.S.’ southern border. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups, is the first big challenge to the executive order put in place just over a week ago.
The restrictions bar migrants from seeking asylum when border encounters rise above 2,500 per day.
In its first week implemented, the number of migrants crossing has fallen by 25%, according to Department of Homeland Security officials. However, the number of migrants coming over is still more than the number allowed — about 3,000 per day.
The executive action was meant to make illegal border crossers ineligible for asylum, but officials say thousands of migrants a day are still being released into the U.S. because of “limited options.”
The lawsuit did not seek an emergency injunction to block the new rule, so it will stay in place while the challenge plays out in court.
Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, June 12, potentially delaying any rate cuts until December. Fed Chair Jerome Powell, speaking after a two-day policy meeting, said the U.S. economy’s growth and unemployment rates are performing better than long-term sustainable levels, prompting the decision to maintain the current rate.
During a press conference, Powell said inflation has been decreasing without severely impacting the economy and he anticipates this trend could continue. The Fed plans a gradual return of inflation to its 2% target.
“We know that reducing policy restraint too soon or too much could result in a reversal of the progress that we’ve seen on inflation,” Powell said. “At the same time, reducing policy restraint too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment. In considering any adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks.”
Powell said while some details of future rate cuts are still being finalized, the timing of these cuts will depend on a range of economic data, including labor market health and growth projections.
As the Fed’s latest interest rate announcement was made, Straight Arrow News’ own Simone Del Rosario and former Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig had live analysis of the future of monetary policy. You can watch that here.
‘Life-threatening’ flooding in south Florida
For the third day in a row, heavy rain is threatening more destructive flooding in south Florida Thursday, June 13. It comes after storms turned streets into rivers and water rushed into homes, Wednesday, June 12.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, declared an emergency for five counties after dangerous flooding immobilized the operations of critical infrastructure, including major interstates, roadways, schools, and the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports.
On Tuesday night, June 11, a record-breaking eight inches of rain hit Florida’s west coast in just three hours.
Flood watches are in effect through Friday night, June 14, across south Florida, which is the state’s most populous area, as more rounds of heavy rainfall are expected.
Meteorologists say many parts of the state are likely to see double-digit rainfall totals by the time the storms fully pass.
Russian warships conduct drills 100 miles off coast of Florida
Three Russian warships and a nuclear-powered submarine conducted drills Tuesday, June 11, in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Cuba. The Russian defense ministry said the drills involved simulated attacks on distant mock targets.
The Russian fleet arrived in Cuba Wednesday, June 12, just 100 miles from Florida’s Key West. It’s set to move to Venezuela on Monday, June 17.
These exercises mark the first joint Russian naval and air maneuvers in the Caribbean since 2019.
Despite the proximity, Cuba has assured these visits are routine among allies and the vessels carry no nuclear weapons, posing no threat to the region.
The White House views these drills as Russia’s response to U.S. support for Ukraine but does not see them as a threat to U.S. national security.
Biden admin may protect undocumented spouses of US citizens from deportation
The Biden administration is considering a new immigration policy that would protect the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation. Multiple outlets are reporting that administration officials are working to present a plan to President Joe Biden for consideration.
If approved, it would be enacted as a parole program, which protects certain groups from deportation for a set period of time and gives them access to work permits. It would also make it easier for some of those immigrants to get a green card and a pathway to citizenship.
According to CNN, it’s estimated that the order would impact 750,000 to 800,000 people. A source who spoke with The New York Times put the number closer to 1.1 million. Administration officials working on the measure hope it will help the president win over Latino voters in key battleground states including Arizona, Nevada and Georgia.
This news comes as illegal crossings at the U.S. border dropped 20% Friday, June 7, compared to the days prior. An official told Reuters that Border Patrol arrested 3,100 people who crossed the border illegally.
Officials said the drop is early evidence that the president’s new executive order — which shuts down the border when illegal crossings surpass 2,500 per day — is working.
The ACLU said it would sue the administration over the order and said the policy would put thousands of lives at risk.
“I respectfully disagree with the ACLU,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on ABC’s “This Week.” “I anticipate they will sue us. We stand by the legality of what we have done. We stand by the value proposition. Our intent is to really change the risk calculus of individuals before they leave their countries of origin and incentivize them to use lawful pathways that we have made available to them and keep them out of the hands of exploitative smugglers.”
The president’s order took effect Wednesday, June 5, and the border will not reopen until there is a seven-day average less than 1,500. Migrants who are arrested trying to cross illegally are supposed to be immediately removed from the country while this order is in effect.
However, a Border Patrol memo obtained by Fox News shows agents are not removing immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere. The memo states single adults from those countries are considered hard or very hard to remove and therefore they should be given notices to appear or released on their own recognizance. There are five countries that are exceptions, including Russia and Georgia.
NEW: @FoxNews has obtained an internal Border Patrol memo sent to agents in San Diego sector after President Biden’s executive order took effect, instructing them to release single adults from all but six countries in the eastern hemisphere & classifying them as “hard” or “very… pic.twitter.com/OaSLSYbuC1
This means immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere — including those from Africa and Asia — are being released into the United States without a court date.
Democratic border negotiator doubts Biden EO will survive court challenge
A new executive order from President Joe Biden will shut down asylum requests at the southern border if illegal crossings surpass 2,500 per day. According to The Associated Press, which spoke with White House officials, the asylum claim process would be reopened once the average daily crossings between ports of entry drops to 1,500.
However, before the order was even signed, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., cast doubt on whether it would survive a court challenge.
“The courts are going to decide whether Biden has the power to do what he’s proposing to do,” Murphy told reporters. “I have been pretty doubtful from the beginning that the president has the legal authority to make the big changes at the border necessary to get the border under control. To me, the only thing that we are sure will fix the problem at the border is the bipartisan border bill.”
Murphy said he is still angry with Republicans for killing the bipartisan border deal that he negotiated with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. That anger appears to be felt by multiple members of the Democratic Party.
“Why did they kill it? At the behest of Donald Trump who said he wanted chaos at the border until after the election. Shame on our Republican friends,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “They say they want to protect the border, Donald Trump comes out with a very crass statement, ‘Let’s keep it in chaos so I might win the election,’ and they go along, they do a 180 degree turn. That’s a disgrace.”
Meanwhile, Republicans still contend President Biden is responsible for the current state of the border by pausing border wall construction and ending the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
“This is too little, too late,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said.
Republicans said Biden could have done something about this years ago, but waited until now to help his reelection.
“He could have stopped this every single day of his presidency,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said. “When he signs this executive order the only question people should ask is, ‘Why didn’t you do this in 2021?’”
Multiple organizations including the ACLU said they will be reviewing the order before they make a decision on challenging it in court.
Court rules accurate date, signature required on PA mail-in ballots
In Pennsylvania, a three-judge panel for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday, March 27, that mail-in ballots must have accurate dates on the envelope. During the 2022 midterm election, more than 10,000 ballots in Pennsylvania were thrown out because they had missing or inaccurate dates on the envelope.
According to state law, voters are required to “fill out, date and sign the declaration printed on envelope” before turning in their ballot.
Advocacy groups sued, arguing that tossing ballots was in violation of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 because the law contains a “materiality provision,” which bans denying “the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration or other act requisite to voting.”
In 2023, a lower court judge sided with the advocacy groups and said the state requirement violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Republican National Committee appealed, and the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals came down with the decision Wednesday.
In the court’s opinion, U.S. Circuit Court Judge Thomas Ambro, a Clinton appointee, said the materiality provision “only applies when the state is determining who may vote.”
“The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that dating the envelope is mandatory, and undated or misdated ballots are invalid under its state law and must be set aside,” Ambro said.
U.S. Circuit Judge Patty Schwartz dissented, saying the rule would allow the state to “toss a ballot cast by a qualified voter based upon mistakes on required paperwork immaterial to determining voter qualifications.”
It’s unclear if the advocacy groups will appeal the decision before the 2024 presidential election.
“If this ruling stands, thousands of Pennsylvania voters could lose their vote over a meaningless paperwork error,” Mike Lee, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said.
ACLU and NRA unite in landmark free speech case at Supreme Court
Supreme Court justices heard arguments in NRA v. Vullo on Monday, March 18. The landmark case has brought together two unlikely allies, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The case centers on allegations made by the NRA against Maria Vullo, a former New York state official who previously held the position of superintendent at the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Vullo allegedly suggested that companies reassess their connections with the NRA after the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida and issued warnings of potential enforcement actions against those that didn’t comply.
Central to the arguments is the question of whether government advocacy crossed the line into suppression of free speech. The NRA argues that Vullo targeted the group for its speech, violating its First Amendment rights. Conversely, Vullo asserts that she was within her rights to enforce the law and express policy views.
The NRA responded by filing a lawsuit, claiming unlawful government coercion.
In an unexpected turn, the NRA found an ally in the ACLU, which argued that the group’s speech was undeniably targeted.
The outcome of this case could significantly influence how government officials engage with controversial topics and regulate speech.
A decision is expected this summer, and witnesses suggest that the justices appeared inclined to side with the NRA.
‘Cancel culture is dead’: Univ. of Mich. declares new free speech protections
On college campuses nationwide, some protestors have effectively halted controversial speakers from expressing their thoughts and viewpoints. In April of last year, protesters at San Francisco State University disrupted a speaking event for Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, who advocates against boys and transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams.
The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents recently affirmed its commitment to protecting controversial speakers on campus. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, the board updated its free speech policy — two months after pro-Palestinian protestors caused disruptions at a university administrative building, resulting in injuries to police officers and numerous trespassing arrests.
In response to complaints from Michigan students about the suppression of speech, the ACLU of Michigan intervened in December. Following these events, the University’s Board of Regents convened a special meeting, unanimously voting to update the school’s free speech policy. The board emphasized the importance of free inquiry and expression, acknowledging that encountering differing ideas is integral to the academic community.
The new guidelines provide protections for invited speakers expressing their views and opinions, as well as safeguards against protestors attempting to disrupt or intimidate any speech or performance. University groups are now permitted to designate specific areas on campus for their speaker events.
The guidelines also recognize protestors’ rights to express opposition to controversial viewpoints in appropriate ways outside the venue. Regent Ron Weiser emphasized the importance of free speech as giving people the choice to listen or not.
Regent Mark Bernstein declared unequivocally that “cancel culture is dead at the University of Michigan.” The board underlined that the new policy does not protect speech or conduct violating the law or university policy, including bullying, defamation, property destruction, discrimination, harassment, violence or threats.
Despite recent free speech challenges on campuses, Regent Chair Sarah Hubbard stated that the university has been working to update the policy since University President Santa Ono’s appointment.
The board highlighted the collaborative input from regents, university officials, the faculty senate and community members in crafting the new policy, which will be implemented across all University of Michigan campuses by the General Counsel.
