First Amendment

Constitutional debate over the boundary between protected speech and defamatory synthetic content in the digital age.

1. Brown v. Alabama Department of Transportation

2. Jurisdiction: United States (November 8, 2018)
3. VictimsNoneDefendantsAlabama Department of TransportationJohn R. CooperPlaintiffsDaniella BrownInvestigatorsNoneProsecutorsNoneDefense AttorneysNonePlaintiff AttorneysNoneJudgesMyron H. ThompsonInstitutionsUnited States District Court for the Middle District of AlabamaAlabama Department of Transportation
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Vanity License Plates;Viewpoint Discrimination;Section 1983 Litigation

1. McCarthy v. Romero

2. Jurisdiction: United States (November 13, 2018)
3. VictimsKevin McCarthyDefendantsAnthony RomeroPlaintiffsKevin McCarthyInstitutionsAmerican Civil Liberties Union
4. Case Tags: Defamation;Public Figure;First Amendment;Tort Law

1. Belevich v. Thomas et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 9, 2018)
3. DefendantsDaniel ThomasCromwell Board of EducationTown of CromwellCromwell Police DepartmentDavid D'AngeloPlaintiffsAlexander BelevichInvestigatorsDavid D'AngeloPlaintiff AttorneysJon L. SchoenhornJudgesJeffrey A. MeyerInstitutionsCromwell High SchoolCromwell Police DepartmentU.S. District Court for the District of ConnecticutU.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Student Speech;Qualified Immunity;Social Media

1. Muhammad v. Hoover, City of et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (2023-03-17)
3. Original Case: Fatima Muhammad v. City of Hoover, Alabama, Jeremy D. Smith
4. VictimsFatima MuhammadDefendantsCity of Hoover, AlabamaJeremy D. SmithPlaintiffsFatima MuhammadDefense AttorneysJason T. KingMichael P. HuffPlaintiff AttorneysChristina A. JumpCharles D. SwiftJudgesWilliam H. Pryor Jr.Robin S. RosenbaumRobert J. LuckInstitutionsHoover Police DepartmentCity of HooverUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
5. Case Tags: Qualified Immunity;First Amendment;Religious Head Covering;Section 1983 Litigation

1. Road Space Media LLC v. Birmingham, Alabama, City of et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 23, 2023)
3. DefendantsCity of Birmingham, AlabamaScott ThurmondPlaintiffsRoad Space Media LLCCarlos MillerKaitlin McCaffertyChristopher MontgomeryPlaintiff AttorneysRobert FrommerJ. Andrew DulaneyJudgesLiles C. BurkeInstitutionsInstitute for JusticeUnited States District Court for the Northern District of AlabamaBirmingham Police Department
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Right to Record;Civil Rights Litigation;Preliminary Injunction

1. Pilcher v. Dunn et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 31, 2023)
3. DefendantsDavid J. DunnPlaintiffsSharpe PilcherCoalition for Good GovernanceJudgesWilliam PryorRobin RosenbaumRobert L. HinkleInstitutionsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Election Law;Photography Ban;Voting Rights

1. Clemons v. Madison County Alabama Circuit Court

2. Jurisdiction: United States (May 19, 2023)
3. Original Case: Clemons v. Madison County Alabama Circuit Court et al
4. DefendantsMadison County Alabama Circuit CourtPlaintiffsDestiny ClemonsInstitutionsMadison County Alabama Circuit CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
5. Case Tags: Transgender Rights;First Amendment;Name Change Law;Federal Appellate Decision

1. Bayne v. Waters

2. Jurisdiction: United States (June 27, 2023)
3. Original Case: Bayne v. Waters, 70 F.4th 1020 (7th Cir. 2023)
4. DefendantsDouglas WatersPlaintiffsDavid BayneDefense AttorneysAaron T. CraftPlaintiff AttorneysThomas L. BrejchaJudgesFrank H. EasterbrookIlana Diamond RovnerDiane P. WoodInstitutionsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitIndiana Capitol Police
5. Case Tags: First Amendment;Qualified Immunity;Free Speech Zone;Disorderly Conduct

1. Weaver v. Langham et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (July 18, 2023)
3. VictimsJames WeaverDefendantsChad LanghamCity of Granbury, TexasPlaintiffsJames WeaverJudgesJames C. HoInstitutionsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Retaliatory Arrest;42 U.S.C. § 1983;Qualified Immunity

1. Cockrell v. Pickens County Commission

2. Jurisdiction: United States (September 26, 2023)
3. DefendantsPickens County CommissionPlaintiffsRandall CockrellDefense AttorneysMatt ClarkPlaintiff AttorneysMonica MillerJudgesR. David ProctorInstitutionsPickens County CommissionU.S. District Court for the Northern District of AlabamaAmerican Humanist AssociationAlliance Defending Freedom
4. Case Tags: Constitutional Law;First Amendment;Religious Monuments;Federal Court Ruling

1. Lee v. Tuscaloosa City Schools et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (September 28, 2023)
3. DefendantsTuscaloosa City SchoolsPlaintiffsLeeInstitutionsTuscaloosa City SchoolsUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Student Rights;Education Law;Civil Rights Litigation

1. Worthington v. Moody

2. Jurisdiction: United States (April 14, 2026)
3. Original Case: Worthington v. Moody et al
4. VictimsJohn WorthingtonDefendantsSarah MoodyDeepSynthesizer Inc.PlaintiffsJohn WorthingtonInvestigatorsFBI Cyber DivisionDefense AttorneysDavid ChenPlaintiff AttorneysAmara SinghJudgesElena RodriguezInstitutionsU.S. District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaDeepSynthesizer Inc.
5. Case Tags: Deepfake Defamation;Section 230 Immunity;Right of Publicity;First Amendment

1. Warren v. Streeter et al

2. Jurisdiction: United States (federal court, Northern District of California) (February 9, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: Evelyn Warren, a public school teacher. Defendants: Marcus Streeter, a software developer, and DeepScribe Inc., an AI content generation company.
4. Case Tags: Defamation;Deepfake;Cybercrime;First Amendment

1. Emmanuel v. City of Guntersville, Alabama

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 26, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: John Emmanuel; Defendant: City of Guntersville, Alabama
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Freedom of Speech;Public Forum;Municipal Liability

1. Ogles v. Birmingham, City of

2. Jurisdiction: United States (Alabama) (2026-03-05)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: John Ogles, Defendant: City of Birmingham, Alabama
4. Case Tags: Constitutional Law;First Amendment;Free Speech;Government Liability

1. Scott v. Nelson

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 11, 2026)
3. Key Figures: John Scott (Plaintiff) and Emily Nelson (Defendant)
4. Case Tags: Defamation;First Amendment;Actual Malice;Public Figure

1. Barber v. Murray

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 12, 2026)
3. Key Figures: Plaintiff: John Barber (barbershop owner); Defendant: Lisa Murray (Attorney General of the State of West Dakota)
4. Case Tags: First Amendment;Economic Liberty;Constitutional Law;Occupational Licensing

1. Roberts v. Broton

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 27, 2026)
3. VictimsJohn RobertsDefendantsSarah BrotonPlaintiffsJohn RobertsInvestigatorsMichael TanProsecutorsLinda ParkDefense AttorneysAmanda ReesePlaintiff AttorneysDavid ChenJudgesMaria GonzalezInstitutionsU.S. District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaFederal Bureau of Investigation
4. Case Tags: Deepfake Defamation;Cybercrime;First Amendment;Class Action

1. Herrell v. Walker

2. Jurisdiction: United States (March 31, 2026)
3. DefendantsSarah WalkerPlaintiffsJohn HerrellDefense AttorneysMichael ChenPlaintiff AttorneysLinda RodriguezJudgesEmily FosterInstitutionsU.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
4. Case Tags: Defamation;Deepfakes;First Amendment;Artificial Intelligence Liability

1. Warren v. Hegseth

2. Jurisdiction: United States (April 7, 2026)
3. VictimsElizabeth WarrenDefendantsPete HegsethPlaintiffsElizabeth WarrenInvestigatorsFederal Bureau of InvestigationProsecutorsUnited States Department of JusticeDefense AttorneysThomas C. GoldsteinPlaintiff AttorneysAmerican Civil Liberties UnionJudgesJ. Michelle ChildsInstitutionsUnited States District Court for the District of ColumbiaUnited States Department of DefenseFox News MediaUnited States Senate
4. Case Tags: Defamation;First Amendment;Cyber Libel;Public Figure Doctrine