Understanding How a First Amendment Lawyer Can Help You
If you’ve been unjustly accused of defamation, a First Amendment lawyer can protect your rights. Read on to find out how we will help you get justice.
What Is the First Amendment Law?
Many people are unsure what the First Amendment is and what it does. Before consenting to accept the Constitution, our nation’s founders required that the Amendment to the initial document safeguard these rights:
- Freedom of Speech is the right to express ideas, including one that could be considered quite offensive.
- Freedom of the Press is the right to publish printed and digital news matters without restrictions from the government as long as its information doesn’t include libel, obscenity, or treasonous issues.
- Freedom of Religion is the right to exercise religious beliefs without governmental intervention, including children’s right to pray in school without being bullied or censored.
- Freedom of Assembly is the right for people to gather on behalf of, promote, and defend their shared ideas. It is also sometimes referred to as the Freedom of Association.
Use of Freedom of Speech torts usually consists of verbiage that inflicts psychological distress, scams and deliberate lies, and tortious disturbance.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for a First Amendment violation, you should contact a qualified First Amendment attorney to protect your constitutional rights and ensure your rights are not violated.
What Does a First Amendment Attorney Do?
There are many reasons why a person might require a First Amendment lawyer’s services in New York or New Jersey.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution secures the freedom of speech, religious beliefs, and media law. It likewise guarantees the right to peaceful demonstration and petition the federal government.
The significance of the First Amendment has been a topic of continuing analysis and disagreement throughout the years. Therefore, the best way to understand whether or not your First Amendment rights have been violated is to contact a reputable attorney from the Mullen Law Firm.
First Amendment Litigation Explained
As mentioned, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides a broad spectrum of protection, including freedom of speech, civil liberty, and the right to petition the federal government.
First Amendment litigators are highly experienced in representing individuals and media clients who are involved in legal conflicts, including:
- Authors’ rights
- Civil liberty claims
- Media outlets
- Rights of press reporters under Shield Laws
- Rights of publicity versus personal privacy
Trademark and copyright cases will be prosecuted with the help of legal counsel. Our attorneys at Mullen will fight for your rights in federal and state court, ensuring that you receive the justice you deserve.
Contact us right now for a free consultation so we can get started on your case.
New Changes in First Amendment Issues
One of the most significant, emerging changes in how and when the First Amendment is enforced concerns digital innovations.
First Amendment attorneys have experience in a wide range of legal matters, including:
- Anonymous posters
- Content licensing
- Counseling on the Communications Decency Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
- Cybercrimes
- Data protection
- Endorsement issues
- International privacy protection laws
- Privacy policies
- Social media
- Website user agreements
As the digital age advances, the complexities in ensuring the First Amendment rights of users are protected while maintaining the safety and security of others increases.
Only a qualified First Amendment attorney will be able to advise you about your responsibilities and freedoms adequately.
Our lawyers have successfully obtained justice for victims of First Amendment violations such as free speech violations, religious discrimination, First Amendment retaliation, and political patronage dismissals.
Whether it’s state sweepstakes regulations or the Dot Com Disclosure guidelines provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Mullen Law Firm can assist clients and their agencies with a wide range of compliance challenges.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your options if you believe your rights have been infringed.
What the Constitution First Amendment Covers
The Constitutional First Amendment covers free speech rights, enabling the open sharing of information.
This is further secured by the passing of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It also maintains easy access to other public records. Since this can be confusing and difficult to stay current on, businesses should consult legal counsel to avoid crossing boundaries.
A knowledgeable attorney will advise companies and organizations on the best ways to protect their proprietary information, how to properly use the information of their personnel, and correctly use information obtained in meetings.
By retaining a legal firm, a business can ensure it is not accused of violating an employee’s First Amendment rights and will have skilled representation if accused of doing so.
Text of First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Common Court Cases Involving the First Amendment
Many of the court cases involving the 1st Amendment involve, but are not restricted to, the following issues and practice areas:
- Advertising law
- Censorship
- Commercial litigation
- Copyright
- Defamation and privacy of corporations and individuals
- False advertising
- Free speech
- Freedom of information
- Freedom of religion
- Intellectual property
- Internet defamation
- Invasion of privacy
- Licensing
- Online publishers
- Political affiliation
- Protests
- Right of access to information
- Social media
- Solicitation
- Symbolic speech
- Traditional media
- Vendor relationships
- Workers complaints
- Government relations
Although there are many services that attorneys will help litigate to obtain restitution for a company, group, or individual, there are several restrictions for which they may not be able to sue successfully.
Due to one’s intent, their first amendment rights will likely show they are not guilty of a libel claim. The best law firm will know when to take the case to court.
Attorneys Offer Representation in the Courts
In litigation, many First Amendment lawyers will take these cases through Appellate Court to the Supreme Court. This includes legal-based claims toward entertainment, news, or television companies.
The best lawyers will use the right defense for their clients to ensure their First Amendment rights are assured every time.
Rights in the First Amendment
The rights provided in the First Amendment are not restricted by “legal age.” They are ensured the day a person is born.
There is likewise no citizenship requirement for First Amendment defense. If they remain in the U.S., they have all the freedoms this Amendment provides. Everyone has the right to legal counsel if they are falsely accused of infringing on someone else’s rights.
It is also neither “left-wing” nor “conservative.” It can be utilized to promote or oppose social and political change. The First Amendment secures the individual from over-reach of the United States government and ensures it does not limit freedom of expression.
However, it does not prevent private companies from setting their guidelines regarding employee sexual harassment and appropriate workplace conduct.
Hiring First Amendment Lawyers
A First Amendment attorney will help protect the rights of U.S. individuals, including their ability to share information by speech or writing and assemble for any reason, including associating for religious activities.
Whether you feel that your rights have been infringed on or you think that you have been falsely accused of infringing on others’ rights, retaining a First Amendment Attorney can help ensure a successful resolution.
Our First Amendment litigators have extensive experience with First Amendment civil rights claims, privacy and publicity rights, reporter rights under shield laws, and author rights under statute and contract, as well as counseling media organizations and defending against misappropriation and right of publicity claims.
Learn more about the Mullen Law Firm to see how we can help, then contact us for a free consultation.