When Jail is not an Option

The discussion was about a First Amendment case involving a small community newspaper publishing photos that were vital to a murder case. A 14-year-old male was charged with murder in Santa Monica. A judge forced the publishers to hand over the photos before suffering fines of $1,000 a day. The newspaper turned in the photos, but published them on the same day.

Chris

First Amendment and Student Media

Lawyer Adam Goldstein talked about libel issues with college newspapers. He distinguished between the different types of public forums and libel per se and libel per quod. Goldstein also discussed the difference between libeling a public figure and libeling a private citizen. A public figure is anyone who voluntarily includes thrusts themselves into the public spotlight. Actual malice must be proved when libeling a public figure. Only negligence must be proved in a libel suit involving private citizens.

Chris

Religious Freedom- the First 16 Words of the First Amendment

Charles Haynes of the First Amendment Center in Washington, D.C. discussed the two clauses for religious freedom in the firs amendment. The audience asked questions about the meaning of “no establishment.” Haynes then discussed the reasons behind why we need freedom of religion, and concluded that freedom of conscience was the basis for the Constitution.

Chris