The VLW Blog

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t review the dismissal of the felony spam convictions of Jeremy Jaynes. The Supreme Court of Virginia had upheld his convictions and nine-year prison term on a 4-3 vote in February 2008 but reversed them unanimously in September. Considered to be among the top 10 spammers at the world at the [...]

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Free speech advocates are urging an Illinois court to protect the anonymity of people who post comments on Web publications. The case, which has now reached the Illinois appellate court, stemmed from comments left on a local newspaper Web site, reports Online Media Daily. Anonymous posters responded to an article that profiled a couple who [...]

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A trio of free speech advocates has ridden to the aid of Charlottesville blogger Waldo Jaquith (left). Like many bloggers, Jaquith allows folks to post anonymous comments on his Cvillenews.com site.  After he reported on a defamation lawsuit filed against another Charlottesville publication, the plaintiff’s lawyer demanded that Jaquith cough up the identities of the [...]

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A case that pitted a smut-fighting local proseuctor against two prominent First Amendment lawyers is headed for settlement in Staunton. According to The News Leader, the year and a half long battle between prosecutor Raymond C. Robertson and Rick E. Krial, owner of After Hours Video has ended after Krial agreed not to appeal his [...]

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A Chicago federal judge declined to dismiss the charge of threatening a juror against Roanoke neo-Nazi Bill White. White’s lawyer had argued that posting the juror’s name on White’s “Overthrow” Web site should not subject him to prosecution.  U.S. District Judge William J. Hibbler ruled that the case should be heard by a jury, according [...]

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A Roanoke man who was booted from a city council meeting and convicted of disorderly conduct gets no relief today from the Supreme Court of Virginia. Duane Howard had earned a reputation as a government gadfly, a reputation no doubt enhanced when he shouted “Let him speak!” when the mayor tried to admonish another citizen [...]

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While the Justice Department and a private attorney celebrate a $1.4 billion settlement for Eli Lilly’s misbranding of the drug Zyprexa, the ACLU is throwing down a challenge to the secrecy provisions of the law that made it possible. The federal False Claims Act provides big rewards for whistleblowers who report fraud on the taxpayer.  [...]

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The ACLU of Virginia is asking Richmond leaders to drop a proposal to ban curbside solicitation of motorists.  According to the group’s news release, a Richmond public safety committee is recommending an ordinance to outlaw panhandlers from approaching people in cars.  The ACLU says that law would be unconstitutional infringement of speech. By Peter Vieth

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The U.S. Supreme Court effectively dropped the gavel yesterday to close debate on the government prayer issue by upholding the decision approving a ban on praying to Jesus at Fredericksburg city council meetings.  If there were any doubt before, the issue now is resolved:  governments may allow prayer at their meetings, but the prayers may [...]

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“Our football team needs our support right now and that should be our collective focus. With that in mind, I am repealing immediately the policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all athletics venues.”  So said U.Va. athletics director Craig Littlepage yesterday, admitting that the sign ban had become a “distraction.” Two possible “distractions” may [...]

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