Prisoner’s puzzling pro se appeal again leads to dismissal
Deficiencies in a pro se prisoner’s appellate filings have once again prevented the Indiana Court of Appeals from considering the man’s argument against an unfavorable trial court judgment.
First Amendment
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Guidance counselor sues Roncalli, Indianapolis archdiocese
A second teacher is suing the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, claiming she was subjected to a hostile work environment and discrimination because she is a lesbian and married to another woman.
COA hears free speech Facebook post case involving police threats
Arguments concerning a mother’s free speech rights on Facebook after she was convicted for harassing a police officer opened discussion about the uncharted waters of social media in court before an Indiana appeals court Wednesday.
COA will hear free speech appeal in Facebook harassment case
An angry mother who made threatening posts on social media toward a police officer after the death of her son is now appealing her harassment conviction, arguing her free speech rights were violated.
Fired Cathedral High School teacher sues archdiocese
The teacher fired from Cathedral High School for being in a same-sex marriage sued the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Marion Superior Court on Wednesday, alleging the church leadership illegally interfered with his contractual and employment relationship with the high school, which led to his termination June 23.
Harassment charges over man’s calls to lawmakers, state agency upheld
A man accused of repeatedly making harassing phone calls to Indiana lawmakers’ aides and staff members at the Secretary of State’s Office must face multiple misdemeanor charges, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.
Justices side with business, government in information fight
The Supreme Court of the United States sided with businesses and the U.S. government Monday in a ruling about the public’s access to information, telling a South Dakota newspaper it can’t get the data it was seeking.
High court strikes down ‘scandalous’ part of trademark law
The Untied States Supreme Court has struck down a section of federal law that prevented officials from registering trademarks seen as scandalous or immoral, handing a victory Monday to California fashion brand FUCT.
Brebeuf, Cathedral take opposing stances over gay teachers
Leaders at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School say the school will no longer be recognized by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a Catholic school after Brebeuf refused to fire a “highly capable and qualified teacher” who is married to a same-sex partner. Meanwhile, Cathedral High School took the opposite position.
Supreme Court upholds cross on public land in Maryland
A World War I memorial in the shape of a 40-foot-tall cross can continue to stand on public land in Maryland, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Lawsuit: School’s transgender policy violated teacher’s religious beliefs
A Brownsburg music teacher who claims he lost his job because he refused to address transgender students by the first names of their choice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Brownsburg Community School Corporation for violating his First Amendment religious freedom and free speech rights.
Newtown parents win defamation suit in growing fight against hoaxers
The father of a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newton, Connecticut has won a defamation lawsuit against the authors of a book that claimed the shooting never happened — the latest victory for victims’ relatives who have been taking a more aggressive stance against conspiracy theorists.
Amish couple settles lawsuit over photos their faith forbids
An Amish couple with 13 children settled a lawsuit that accused federal officials of violating their constitutional rights by insisting they provide photographs of themselves before the Canadian wife’s request to become a permanent U.S. resident can be approved.
Carmel synagogue vandal who espoused Nazism gets 3 years for hate crime
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison for spray-painting anti-Semitic graffiti and lighting fires outside a Carmel synagogue. Witnesses said the man had openly advocated Nazism among friends and co-workers and had planned a larger attack.
Mayor: Madison doesn’t want to be identified with Klan group
The mayor of Madison, Indiana, distancing his community from a local Ku Klux Klan group that is planning a rally in Ohio this month, saying the city doesn’t “stand for any kind of hate.”
COA rejects ex-teacher’s defamation claims against Elkhart Truth
A former Elkhart teacher who alleged a newspaper defamed him by writing an article about his federal lawsuit against the school that fired him failed to convince an appellate panel that the issue was not of public interest, or that the article was not written in good faith.
Web Exclusive: Chances of changing libel laws unlikely
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stood alone recently when he suggested reconsidering five decades worth of libel law standards. But Indiana media lawyers say chances of changing longstanding First Amendment protections appear slim.
In ‘FUCT’ fashion brand case, justices avoid saying word
The U.S. Supreme Court discussed a trademark case Monday involving Los Angeles-based fashion brand “FUCT.” But the justices did some verbal gymnastics to get through about an hour of arguments without saying the brand’s name.
Say what?: Trademark case tests ‘scandalous,’ ‘immoral’ standards
A First Amendment case just heard by the United States Supreme Court pits an anti-establishment brand — the four-letter acronym for Friends U Can't Trust — against federal prohibitions on trademarks that are “scandalous and immoral.”
WikiLeaks’ Assange faces US charge after London arrest
A bearded and shouting Julian Assange was pulled from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and hauled into court Thursday, the start of an extradition battle for the WikiLeaks founder who faces U.S. charges related to the publication of tens of thousands of secret government documents.