An appeals court has reversed a district court’s 2012 decision that found a school district could suspend a student who uploaded to the internet a profanity-filled rap song alleging two staff members had inappropriate contact with students.
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Va. judge delays release of rejected plea deal in Washington and Lee U. manslaughter case
While he acknowledged the public has the right to access court proceedings and records, Judge Jay Swett determined the public’s access to the document would create substantial prejudice to the defendant’s fair trial rights.
N.M. high school teacher resigns after student’s story about Jesus giving out marijuana stirs controversy
Katrina Guarascio, who taught for eight years at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, said she resigned on Dec. 3 because she didn’t agree with administrators’ “ultimatum” for her to develop stricter plans and discipline for her classes.
Colleges handle sexual assaults inadequately, senators told
Too often, colleges operate in a vacuum and “act as judge and jury” in cases involving serious crimes, said Peg Langhammer, the head of Day One, a Rhode Island-based sexual-assault-resource center. More frequent collaboration with law enforcement would help to define what campuses should handle, Langhammer said.
Reporter's Privilege guide: Nebraska – Pennsylvania
Reporter's privilege guide: Nebraska - Pennsylvania
Reporter's Privilege guide: Indiana – Montana
SL = State has enacted a shield law
CRP = State has a court-recognized privilege, generally based on the state constitution or federal First Amendment.
CUNY journalism student arrested while covering protest over Eric Garner’s choking death
A journalism student at the City University of New York faces a disorderly conduct charge after police arrested her Wednesday night at a protest over a grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the choking death of Eric Garner.
Supreme Court hears social media threats case
In the case Elonis v. United States, the Supreme Court will determine if a conviction for threatening another person on social media requires proof of the speaker’s subjective intent to threaten.
Private college sent you to the dungeon? The Constitution won't help. Contract law might.
A federal judge says Colgate University can be liable for falsely imprisoning a student awaiting a disciplinary hearing but can't be sued for violating his constitutional rights, because private businesses aren't subject to the Constitution.
Connecticut joins consensus that school security videos are not confidential FERPA records
Connecticut has joined at least two other states in ruling that school surveillance videos can be released as public records without violating the federal FERPA privacy statute. The ruling is a win for common sense and a setback for the U.S. Department of Education's FERPA literalism.