E.A. Gjelten
Legal Editor
Animal Cruelty Laws in Idaho
Idaho outlaws various forms of animal abuse, from neglect and abandonment to torture. ... READ MORE
Free Speech: What Is Obscenity, and Which Community Standards Apply?
The First Amendment doesn’t protect pornography that meets the legal standards for obscenity, but Internet porn has complicated those standards. ... READ MORE
Determining Flight Risk for Pretrial Release—With or Without Cash Bail
With the help of traditional evidence or newer risk assessment tools, judges consider several factors when deciding if it’s safe to release criminal defendants before trial and when setting bail. ... READ MORE
Freedom of Expression in School: An Overview
Learn the basics of how the First Amendment protects the right of public K-12 students to express their views, including when and how school officials may limit free speech rights on campus, off campus, and online. ... READ MORE
Can Schools Punish Students for Online or Off-Campus Speech?
The Supreme Court has held that public schools may limit some—but not all—off-campus speech by K-12 students, including social media posts. ... READ MORE
When Can Schools Limit Students’ Free Speech Rights?
Students don’t lose their First Amendment rights by going to public school, but they can still be punished for some kinds of speech—or other ways of expressing their opinions. ... READ MORE
Does the First Amendment Protect Hate Speech?
There’s no exception for hate speech under the First Amendment’s protection for freedom of expression, unless the speech is direct, personal, and either truly threatening or violently provocative. ... READ MORE
The First Amendment and Free Speech Rights: FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about the constitutional right to freedom of expression and its limits—including how free speech rights apply to social media, students, immigrants, public employees, and military service members. ... READ MORE
What Happens to Truants and Their Parents in New Jersey?
New Jersey students who are younger than 16 could be arrested or end up in juvenile court if they have too many unexcused absences. ... READ MORE
When Can You Drop Out of School in Washington?
Washington students can’t legally drop out of school before they turn 18, unless they’re at least 16 and qualify for one of the exceptions. If they stop going to school before they qualify, truants and their parents could face legal proceedings. ... READ MORE