This is the Daily Media Update published by the Institute for Free Speech. For press inquiries, please contact Luke Wachob at [email protected].  

Law360: 3rd Circ. Preview: NJ Election Law Takes Center Stage In July

.....The intricacies of New Jersey election law are set to be examined in July by the Third Circuit, which will hear argument on the kinds of slogans candidates can include on ballots and whether banks can contribute to campaigns. In one case, two people seeking office ask the court to consider if the six-word slogan allowed per candidate on the ballot is fair when it prohibits them from referencing people or businesses without their approval. The second case is a challenge brought by the New Jersey Bankers Association questioning whether state law prohibiting banks from making campaign contributions violates the First Amendment, given the U.S. Supreme Court precedent in Citizens United.

Ed. note: The Institute for Free Speech represents the candidates, the plaintiffs-appellants, in the first case, Mazo et al. v. New Jersey Secretary of State, et al. The Institute also submitted an amicus brief in support of appellant/cross-appellee New Jersey Bankers Association in the second case, New Jersey Bankers Association v. Attorney General of New Jersey.

Florida Phoenix: Ban on hand-held signs very likely violates First Amendment, U.S. appeals court rules

.....A Fort Myers Beach street preacher is entitled to an injunction against a town ordinance that prohibits the display of portable signs, a federal appeals court has ruled, citing the First Amendment.

“[P]ortable, handheld signs still are a rich part of the American political tradition and are one of the most common (if not the most common) methods of free expression. The ban on these signs leaves the residents of Fort Myers Beach without an effective alternative channel of communication; it very likely violates the First Amendment,” Judge Stanley Marcus of Florida wrote in an opinion handed down on Tuesday.

Courthouse News: BLM Masks

.....The Third Circuit agrees with a Pennsylvania court that ruled a port authority may not keep employees from wearing Black Lives Matter masks at work; the policy was unconstitutionally restrictive of the workers’ First Amendment rights.

Read the ruling here.

Techdirt: Clarence Thomas Really Wants To Make It Easier For The Powerful To Sue People For Criticizing Them

.....[The "actual malice"] standard has been a huge benefit for freedom of speech. Especially in an era when the rich and powerful use abusive SLAPP suits to drag critics into court with no hope of actually winning. Being able to highlight the lack of any evidence for actual malice has been tremendously helpful in getting many cases kicked out of court at the first opportunity.

The Hill: George Washington University rejects calls to remove Clarence Thomas from teaching role

By Olafimihan Oshin

.....George Washington University (GWU) has rejected its student body’s calls to remove Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from his adjunct professor role in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade...

The school’s response comes as GWU students recently created a petition in an effort to remove Thomas from his teaching position with the university, citing his concurring opinions on abortion, LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage. 

Axios: GOP's Gmail feud escalates

.....An escalating dispute between national Republicans and technology giant Google threatens to bring political heat on the company and could spur significant changes in political email practices.

Politico ("New Jersey Playbook"): Legislature taps the brakes on massive campaign finance bill

.....The “Elections Transparency Act” — a name that does not come close to describing this massive proposal that would dramatically change New Jersey’s campaign finance system — stalled ahead of votes in the full Senate and Assembly after making rapid progress through committees over the last week. It was introduced just two weeks ago.

WTTW: How Money is Impacting Illinois’ Primary Election

By Andrea Guthmann

.....Billionaire Ken Griffin put $50 million of his own money behind Republican candidate for governor Richard Irvin. The Aurora mayor was originally the frontrunner, but in the end, lost to conservative state Sen. Darren Bailey, who received Donald Trump’s endorsement Saturday...

KITV4: Commission Looks to Get Big Money Out of Politics in Hawaii

.....What would it take for Hawaii to make the move towards "clean elections"?

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