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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

freedom of speech

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A quick definition of freedom of speech:

Freedom of speech means that people have the right to say what they think and share their ideas without getting in trouble with the government. This is protected by the First Amendment. However, there are some situations where the government can limit speech, like if it's obscene or indecent, defamatory, or incites violence. Private companies and employers can also limit speech on their platforms and in their workplaces. This means that while people have the right to speak their minds, they also need to be responsible and respectful of others.

A more thorough explanation:

Freedom of speech is the right to express your thoughts and opinions without being punished by the government. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects this right by preventing Congress from making laws that limit freedom of speech.

However, there are some circumstances where the government can restrict speech. For example:

  • Obscenity and Indecency: The government can ban media that is considered obscene or child pornography. Indecent speech, which describes or depicts offensive sexual activity, is generally protected, but the government can regulate it on radio and television if there is a compelling reason and it is done in the least restrictive manner.
  • Defamation: Private and public figures can sue someone for making false statements about them. Public figures must prove that the person made the statement with malice, while private figures must prove that the person failed to act with reasonable care.
  • Incitement: Speech that intends to incite violations of the law is not protected under the First Amendment.
  • Fighting words: Speech that is likely to provoke violence or a physical altercation is not protected.

It's important to note that private entities, such as companies and private employers, can regulate speech on their platforms and within their workplace since the First Amendment only applies to the government. For example, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were able to ban President Donald Trump from their sites in 2021 without legal repercussion.

In the case Manhattan Community Access Corporation v. Halleck, the Supreme Court affirmed that private entities are not restricted by the First Amendment. Manhattan Neighborhood Network, a nonprofit that operates public access channels in Manhattan, suspended two employees after receiving complaints about a film they produced. The employees argued that this was a violation of their First Amendment rights, but the Supreme Court held that the nonprofit couldn't be subjected to the First Amendment since it was not a government entity or a state actor.

Similarly, in Nyabwa v. Facebook, the Southern District of Texas affirmed that private entities are not subject to the First Amendment. The plaintiff sued Facebook for locking his account after he spoke about President Donald Trump's business conflicts of interest. The court dismissed the lawsuit, stating that the First Amendment only prevents Congress and other government entities from restricting freedom of speech, not private entities.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) | freehold

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0:20
thank you guys. what are good big state schools - u mean CA NY etc?
windyMagician
0:21
sometimes i just wanna say fuck it and go to Nebraska. I didn’t even apply
0:21
Home of the Buffet :)
Dkk
0:23
@llama: the advisor to honey works at UCLA and wrote me a letter of rec. It's not a good time for me lol.
is georgetown known to yield protect?
windyMagician
0:23
no.
0:25
15/15 dk- news should be delayed some for verification of the state of affairs, I bet u will be good this cycle ;) (also, not ur monkey, not ur circus). @chow like UGA. UofFL UHuston etc idk tho not really knowledgeable on it
Dkk
0:26
@llama: indeed, indeed
0:27
should i prioritize sending in my T14 apps first and then targets/safeties, or mix em all together? 15/15. and thank you guys i just wanna know if youd apply to like 30 law schools all over or just keep it simple w targets and safeties.
Dkk
0:27
@ChowieBean: if I were you I would go all T14s and then like Vanderbilt, BU, whatever.
yea i agree i think you are competitive for all T14s
Dkk
0:28
I am watching legally blonde for the first time right now so bye bye good luck!
0:28
Yea get the t14 in pronto, then shotgun some off after . See ya Dkk
Dkk
0:28
Ill unprivate my profile for christmas if you want to see what I did @chowie
Dkk
0:29
Good luck!
windyMagician
0:31
goated school list dk
Dkk
0:35
@windyMagician: ty ty, hopefully I get just one of them unlike last year
windyMagician
0:37
you will get into Michigan so that we can be lawyers club neighbors
windyMagician
0:39
not to sound ungrateful but getting into my top choice early feels like the main quest is time locked and I have to do side quests to pass the time before I can advance the main story
0:40
do yall know if the law school grants based on percentile are annual or one-time
Dkk
0:43
@windyMagician: I like that! ty!
Dkk
0:43
@ChowieBean: can be both but on this website you are supposed to enter annual.
0:50
Proud of u windy, big W. Chow, r u talking about the new 509s where it separates grants from scholarships? Not sure on that, but school’s offer usually state it per year, and on here / other sites, it is usually total (all 3yrs) if that helps
0:51
Dk do u want to stay west coast for school/ post grad?
Dkk
0:55
@llama: nah I really do not care where I go. I just want to study and practice law.
0:56
@Dkk: fuckin word, I feel that
windyMagician
1:05
the gym side quest
2:19
is it too late to apply to duke
Dkk
2:47
according to the charts Duke accepted some 168 4.0's as late as April last year so no if you want to wait till april. They also did some Februaries so if you get lucky you could know earlier. The 168's they accepted in December were like ED's so that opportunity has passed. @chowiebean
Dkk
2:49
Again, I say shoot your shot. You gotta be more decisive than this.
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