Washington Free Beacon

First Amendment

Supremes OK Cross Memorial

7-2 ruling shoots down atheist attempt to tear down WWI memorial


Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, said the suit should have been dismissed earlier given the lack of standing of the association and called on lower courts to dismiss "offended observer standing."

Court to Determine if Contact With Government Equates to Lobbying

Case of citizen activist could have significant First Amendment implications


The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit is set to hear a case Friday in which a citizen activist who habitually walks the halls of the state capitol in Missouri to talk to elected lawmakers about political issues was later declared by a state ethics commission to be a lobbyist.

Supreme Court Denies Review to Football Coach Fired for Praying After Games

Alito: 'denial of certiorari does not signify that the Court necessarily agrees with the decision' of lower courts


The Supreme Court decided not to consider an appeal from a high school football coach who was fired for praying at the 50-yard line after games. Joseph Kennedy, who coached at Bremerton High School in Washington before being fired in 2015, argued his First Amendment rights had been violated by the school district.