Amendment

Alabama Defends Anti-Panhandling Laws, Argues Historical Precedent Against First Amendment Protection in Federal Court

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Montgomery, Alabama — In a recent federal court debate, the state of Alabama defended its anti-panhandling statutes, urging a reversal of a lower court’s ruling which held these laws as unconstitutional. The appeal was heard by a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, foregrounding a contentious dialogue between historical legal precedent and modern interpretations of constitutional rights. Jonathan Singleton, a homeless individual from Montgomery, catalyzed the discourse with his 2020 class-action lawsuit, after facing repeated arrests under these state laws. Earlier in 2023, a court concluded that Alabama’s panhandling prohibitions infringed upon … Read more

Dallas Advocacy Group Threatens Legal Action to Enforce Public Camping Ban Following Charter Amendment

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Dallas, TX — Shortly after Dallas voters decided to remove municipal immunity from lawsuits through a city charter amendment, a local advocacy group, Dallas Hero, announced plans to challenge the city’s enforcement policies. The group’s primary concern centers around the prevalent homeless encampments within the city, demanding that existing state laws prohibiting public camping be strictly enforced. In a recently issued letter by a San Antonio-based attorney representing Dallas Hero, the city of Dallas was threatened with a lawsuit if it fails to tackle the issue of public camping within the next 60 days. This … Read more

Oregon Cities Seek Amendment to 2021 Homeless Camping Law Amid Ongoing Housing Crisis

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Salem, Ore. – As Oregon struggles with a persistent housing crisis, city officials across the state are calling for more flexibility to manage homeless encampments. A law passed in 2021 has become a focal point of controversy, with local leaders claiming it hampers their ability to address camps they consider problematic. The League of Oregon Cities, representing municipal governments, announced its intention to make amending this law a key priority for the upcoming legislative session. The law currently restricts city policies on camping, requiring them to be “objectively reasonable,” a term not explicitly defined, thereby … Read more

Former Lafayette Police Union Head Loses Appeal in First Amendment Lawsuit Over Delayed Filing

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Lafayette, LA — A former Lafayette police union leader lost his bid to overturn a lower court’s ruling, which found him tardy in filing a lawsuit that challenged alleged infringements on his First Amendment rights. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided on November 19 against the former union president, who had taken legal action against various city and police officials. The plaintiff in the case was the previous head of the Police Association of Lafayette #905, identified as Stanley. He initiated a federal lawsuit against several former interim police chiefs—including Scott Morgan, Wayne … Read more