Episode #55
Today on Legalese we look at two recent cases that pit private citizens and the first amendment against qualified immunity and police officers who believe themselves to be above the law.
In Jordan v Adam's County Sheriff's Office a man was arrested for criticizing two cops who got very upset when their inflated sense of authority was questioned.
In Bailey v Iles, we find a man whose only "crime" was to post a joke on Facebook. Which was considered enough of a crime by the Rapides Parish Police Department in Louisiana to send a SWAT team to arrest him and charge him with violating a state anti-terrorism law.
In both cases the Tenth Circuit and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeals (respectively) would find in favor of the petitioners, while holding these police officer’s actions to be so unreasonable they would not be allowed to cower behind claims of qualified immunity.
Show Notes Page: First Amendment v Police Defendants
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Legalese is a podcast that discusses all things constitutional law as well as current events in areas of law, politics & culture.