In a long-anticipated move, two internet-industry groups filed a constitutional challenge on Monday to a new Florida law aimed at keeping children off social media platforms.

A federal lawsuit was filed Monday against St. Johns County for its ordinance on pedestrians and public rights-of-way.

TikTok has pushed back on arguments that the popular social media platform is not shielded by the First Amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday vacated conflicting rulings in challenges to Florida and Texas laws aimed at placing restrictions on social-media platforms, directing appeals courts to reconsider the decisions.

The head of the U.S. Secret Service says security plans for the Republican National Convention are still being determined as protesters blasted restrictions they claimed will violate free speech with just weeks until the event.

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for a National Rifle Association lawsuit against an ex-New York state official over claims she pressured companies to blacklist it following the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting.

A northern Idaho prosecutor won’t bring hate crime charges against an 18-year-old accused of shouting a racist slur at members of the Utah women’s basketball team while the team was in Idaho to attend the NCAA Tournament.

The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others has rejected arguments by the former president that the indictment was seeking to criminalize political speech protected by the First Amendment.

A lawyer for former President Donald Trump has argued that the charges against Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case seek to criminalize political speech that the First Amendment protects.

A federal appeals court says a requirement that cigarette packs and advertising include graphic images demonstrating the effects of smoking does not violate the First Amendment.

Many Americans believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation.

Disney is hoping a recent decision bolstering a Florida prosecutor’s First Amendment case against Gov. Ron DeSantis helps its own free speech lawsuit against the governor.

Three teachers on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit alleging a new state law restricting titles and pronouns at schools unconstitutionally discriminates against transgender and nonbinary educators.

Donald Trump’s legal team is characterizing his indictment in the special counsel’s 2020 election interference investigation as an attack on the former president’s right to free speech.

A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state.

A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state.

A federal appellate court says a national beauty pageant has a First Amendment right to exclude a transgender woman from competing, because including her could interfere with the message the pageant wants to send about what characteristics make an ideal woman.

A federal appeals court panel won't block a subpoena issued by the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection that seeks phone records of the Arizona Republican Party’s leader.

A Jacksonville civil rights leader plans to speak before a United Nations human rights committee in Switzerland next Tuesday.

A federal judge has struck down a Florida law limiting contributions to people or political committees championing ballot initiatives, ruling it violates the First Amendment.

The Los Angeles County sheriff disputed allegations he orchestrated the cover-up of an incident where a deputy knelt on a handcuffed inmate’s head for more than three minutes.

A Leon County circuit judge could rule late next week in a challenge to the constitutionality of a state law that bans so-called “vaccine passports” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delivering a second punch to the Florida Legislature in two days, a federal judge on Thursday blocked a new law that would cap contributions to political committees backing ballot initiatives, saying the law runs afoul of the First Amendment.

Fox News has filed a motion to dismiss a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems over claims about the 2020 presidential election.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida House on Thursday began debating legislation that aims to crack down on violent protests. Democrats proposed adding five amendments to House Bill 1 in an effort to water down the bill, which critics say will impose on people’s rights to peacefully protest. The legislation was written in response to the burning of buildings in the Tampa Bay area in June and windows smashed in Tallahassee, among violent unrest elsewhere in the state. It protects police officers who are there protecting against violent protests,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said of the bill. Opponents claim the legislation will stifle peaceful protests, a criticism Sprowls took issue with.

The faade will be reinstalled at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The tablet is engraved with the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and the right to petition the government. It's a gift from the Freedom Forum, the creator of the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the First Amendment. Ad“It’s so meaningful to bring the text of the First Amendment to Philadelphia,” National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement. He said it would “inspire visitors for generations to come.”A dedication ceremony is planned for later this year.

The controversial ‘anti-mob’ bill has faced strong opposition, including in Duval County, from those who say it would limit First Amendment rights and allow bystanders to shoot and kill looters. Republican Rep. Paul Renner, represents Florida’s 24th District — which includes all of Flagler County, southern St. Johns County and northern Volusia County — and a powerful voice in the Florida House of Representatives. He told Kent Justice during a taping of This Week in Jacksonville that he supports any legislation that would deter political violence. In a House committee session in Tallahassee last month, 69 people spoke out about the bill. You can watch the full interview Sunday at 9 a.m. on Channel 4 and at noon on CW17.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Randy McDaniels traveled from Jacksonville to work security at President Donald Trump’s rally in Washington D.C. last week. After the rally, McDaniels learned a mob of people rushed the capitol. Like the gentleman with the horns on that you saw inside, he was out in the street. On Wednesday, one week after the Capitol siege, President Trump was impeached on a charge of incitement of insurrection. A video of President Trump was posted on the White House’s Twitter page.

These are the rules for Congress, for our government, which Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and all other social media platforms are not. “The Constitution actually is irrelevant here in terms of the banning of public officials, including President Trump, from Twitter. Meaning, social media platforms have become less like shops and restaurants and more like the roads and bridges of the internet. “The bigger question that might raise is is should we start to treat these larger social media platforms, which do have vast power like Facebook? In the Florida legislature, there’s a bill that’s been filed for consideration that would allow users to sue social media companies for blocking their content.

That right is also granted among states, but a group of people say that right is being threatened by a new bill called the “anti-mob” legislation. DeSantis backs ‘anti-mob’ proposal in response to protests“We have the right to protest, we have the right to say how we feel about things. “We’re here to make clear that this proposed legislation is blatantly unconstitutional,” said Ben Frazier, of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. This year, there were examples of peaceful protests turned violent, and some agree that the proposed law would help reduce violence. A county that has disproportionately reduced its law enforcement funding is not eligible to receive state funds.”

NEW YORK – A federal judge on Sunday postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned the popular video sharing app TikTok from U.S. smartphone app stores around midnight. The ruling followed an emergency hearing Sunday morning in which lawyers for TikTok argued that the administration's app-store ban would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business. In arguments to Judge Nichols, TikTok lawyer John Hall said that TikTok is more than an app, since it functions as a “modern day version of a town square." In addition, Hall argued that a ban would prevent existing users from automatically receiving security updates, eroding national security. Trump set the process in motion with executive orders in August that declared TikTok and another Chinese app, WeChat, threats to national security.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Friday marks the 231st anniversary of the passage of the First Amendment, protecting the freedom of speech, religion and the press. It’s now honored as First Amendment Day. The bill also protects the right to peacefully protest and to petition the government. While the law may be centuries old, it is never more relevant. We take that responsibility seriously and do our best every day to earn your respect.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is running as the “law and order” candidate. But they have largely not tried to block the gatherings of thousands of people, which Trump and his team deem “peaceful protests” protected by the First Amendment. An indoor rally that Trump held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June was blamed for a surge of virus infections there. Trump held an indoor rally at the Xtreme Manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada, on Sunday night. The state restricts gatherings to 50 people — based on White House reopening guidelines —- but thousands of supporters packed into the warehouse space nonetheless.

Gordon Smith, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, sat down with Detroits WDIV to discuss the state of local journalism and freedom of the press. Smiths remarks come as journalists voice concerns about violence and aggression toward reporters and crews in the field while they cover unrest in cities across the country. Our fellow citizens deserve and need to hear what is reported to have context of whats happening in their communities, Smith told WDIV. And when theyre put under stress like this, where theyre subject to danger from protesters but even worse, I suppose, from police some police organizations that have pepper sprayed them and tear gassed them and even fired rubber bullets at them this is simply unacceptable.Listen to Smiths complete remarks in the clip above.

In Jacksonville, Sheriff Mike Williams said there were 78 people arrested during demonstrations over the weekend, 16 of whom were not from Duval County. According to an arrest report, those items were taken to 27-year-old Ivan Zechers backpack. Images that were referenced by Sheriff Williams during this afternoons briefing. That man was identified in an arrest report as 19-year-old Hubert Rivers. Protesters said they want the FBI to look at these videos, as well, to determine whether police used excessive force.

NEW YORK A tech-focused civil liberties group on Tuesday sued to block President Donald Trump's executive order that seeks to regulate social media, saying it violates the First Amendment and chills speech. Trump's order, signed last week, could allow more lawsuits against internet companies like Twitter and Facebook for what their users post, tweet and stream. Trump, without evidence, has long accused tech companies of being biased against conservatives. There was pushback against Trump's order from various sources. Civil rights and libertarian organizations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also criticized Trump's order.

Cambridge Christian School of Tampa argues in the lawsuit that the decision blocking the use of the loudspeaker for the prayer violated First Amendment rights. "We cannot say whether these claims will ultimately succeed, but Cambridge Christian has plausibly alleged enough to enter the courtroom and be heard." The case stems from a December 2015 football championship game between Cambridge Christian and University Christian School at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Cambridge Christian filed the lawsuit in federal court in Tampa, but Honeywell rejected the arguments that the association had violated First Amendment rights. But the appeals court reversed the dismissal, saying the constitutional arguments and facts of the case should receive closer scrutiny.