SUMMARY Jawboning refers to government actors using informal threats or regulatory pressure to influence private speech, raising significant First Amendment concerns. The temporary, but very real, suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show following his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination exemplifies how such pressure creates a chilling effect, effectively silencing speech without direct censorship. Landmark court cases … Read more
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, during the opening event of his American Comeback Tour. The assailant, Tyler James Robinson, fired from a rooftop and surrendered the next day. The incident sparked national outrage and a political backlash, with President Trump blaming … Read more
The Supreme Court upheld Texas’s H.B. 1181, a law requiring commercial websites that distribute sexually explicit content to verify that users are at least 18 years old. The law targets material considered obscene for minors but not necessarily for adults. Petitioners representing the pornography industry challenged the statute as a violation of the First Amendment, … Read more
As a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for New York State who defended against habeas corpus petitions, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this ancient writ serves as the last line of defense for those challenging potentially unconstitutional imprisonment. What began as technical work evolved into a profound appreciation for habeas corpus as a cornerstone of American … Read more
In the realm of constitutional jurisprudence, few principles are as foundational as due process, a concept enshrined in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. This bedrock principle, which prohibits government deprivation of “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” faces a significant test through the Trump administration’s novel application … Read more
As I write this, the United States is navigating complex legal and governance challenges that test the boundaries of established rule of law principles. The recent transition of power following the 2024 presidential election has prompted renewed attention to questions about executive authority, regulatory frameworks and judicial independence. Legal scholars and policy analysts across the … Read more