Author: jonathanturley

Supreme Court

Marc Elias to Make Controversial Appearance as DNC Counsel Before the Supreme Court
(MSNBC/via YouTube)

English novelist Robert Smith Surtees once said, “There are three sorts of lawyers – able, unable, and lamentable.” That view was never truer than this month as the United States Supreme Court hears from a lawyer who may be more controversial than the underlying case. In an election case that will require at least two conservative justices to join their liberal colleagues, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) picked one of the most polarizing and controversial attorneys in the country: Marc Elias. Continue reading “Marc Elias to Make Controversial Appearance as DNC Counsel Before the Supreme Court” →

Criminal law, Torts

ChatGPT Accused of Encouraging Alleged Serial Stalker in Latest OpenAI Controversy
Society

Chicago City Council Approves Resolution Honoring the Life of Angela Turley

 In August, I discussed the passing of my mother, Angela Turley, just shy of her 98th birthday. Through decades of social work and philanthropy, my mother left a lasting impact on the city that she loved so deeply.  I am now able to share the resolution from the City Council honoring her memory and legacy in Chicago. On behalf of our entire family, I would like to thank the city for this kind gesture and particularly 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay and her staff for drafting and finalizing the resolution.

Continue reading “Chicago City Council Approves Resolution Honoring the Life of Angela Turley” →

Free Speech, International

So It Begins: The European Union Unleashes the DSA on X with Initial $140 Million Fine

For years, some of us in the free speech community have warned about the threat of the European Union to free speech, particularly in the enactment of the infamous Digital Services Act (DSA). The EU has virtually declared war on free speech and is targeting American companies. That war just began with the first DSA fine. Not surprisingly, X was the chosen target — a company blamed by many in the EU and the U.S. for rolling back free-speech protections. Continue reading “So It Begins: The European Union Unleashes the DSA on X with Initial $140 Million Fine” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

“An Impeachable Moment”: Impeachment Mania Returns in Time for the Midterm Elections

The military has long had a saying that “when you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” When it comes to impeachment power, Democrats have long acted as if every problem is a high crime and misdemeanor. After two impeachments against President Donald Trump (including what I labeled as an infamous “snap impeachment“), Democratic politicians and pundits are back calling for the impeachment of President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Continue reading ““An Impeachable Moment”: Impeachment Mania Returns in Time for the Midterm Elections” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics

Boston Judge (Again) Intervenes to Force Payments to Planned Parenthood

District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston has been one of the most active judges in the country in seeking to enjoin the orders of President Donald Trump, including her orders to prevent deportations under previously “paroled” immigrants under the Biden Administration. She previously sought to enjoin the denial of federal funds to Planned Parenthood, an order that the United States Court of Appeals lifted for the First Circuit pending appeal. Now, Judge Talwani is back with a new basis for forcing payments to Planned Parenthood despite Congress barring Medicaid funds under the Big Beautiful Bill.

Continue reading “Boston Judge (Again) Intervenes to Force Payments to Planned Parenthood” →

Columns, Free Speech

“Rage Bait” May Be the Word of the Year, But Free Speech Remains the Target

Below is my column on Fox.com on the Oxford University Press selecting “rage bait” as the word of the year. It is certainly fitting for our age of rage, but it is a term that has a more negative implication for the free speech community. It is often used to criticize social media sites allowing or favoring such postings. Rage bait may be the word of the year, but make no mistake about it: free speech remains the target.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““Rage Bait” May Be the Word of the Year, But Free Speech Remains the Target” →

Congress, Media, Politics

New York Times Debunks War Crime Story By the Washington Post

The pattern is all too familiar. The Washington Post runs a story with a sensational claim: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the killing of survivors of one of the first boat attacks back in September — a coup de grace or finishing shot that would constitute a war crime. The Post appears to have had only one source making the specific claim about Hegseth, but ran with the story. What followed was a line of politicians and pundits calling for the usual criminal charges, impeachments, and resignations. Then, various sources, including the New York Times, debunked the story. Continue reading “New York Times Debunks War Crime Story By the Washington Post” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Supreme Court

Welcome to Hotel California: Democrats Push Retroactive Billionaire Tax
California was once known as the destination for anyone seeking a fortune, from the Gold Rush to Hollywood. The image of a line of wagon trains heading West has now been replaced by a line of U-Hauls heading anywhere but California. Unable to stem the exodus, California is again toying with retroactive taxes — targeting the wealthy regardless of whether they flee the state. Welcome to Hotel California, “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Continue reading “Welcome to Hotel California: Democrats Push Retroactive Billionaire Tax” →
Columns, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, Politics

It is Time to End Our Sedition Addiction

Below is my column in USA Today on the revival of sedition as a speech crime in the United States. Despite my criticism of the Democratic members of Congress over their recent message to American military personnel, this is not a prosecutorial offense and would collapse quickly in court. More importantly, it is the return of a crime long ago criticized by James Madison as a “monster” that should not be prosecuted in the United States.

Here is the column: Continue reading “It is Time to End Our Sedition Addiction” →

Free Speech, International

British Arrest Man for Posting a Picture Holding a Shotgun in the United States

In my book, The Indispensable Right, I discuss how free speech is in a free fall in Great Britain, where officials continue to crack down on an ever-widening array of viewpoints. This week, that ignoble record worsened with the arrest of Jon Richelieu-Booth, who told the Yorkshire Post that he was arrested for posting a picture on the networking site LinkedIn of himself holding a shotgun at a friend’s homestead in Florida. Continue reading “British Arrest Man for Posting a Picture Holding a Shotgun in the United States” →

Criminal law, International, Media, Politics

A German Court May Have Just Shattered One of the Biden Era’s Biggest Lies

Below is my column in The Hill on the latest development in the investigation of the environmental crimes committed in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the waters near Denmark and Sweden in 2022. The German court issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian in a move that could prove an embarrassment for not just Volodymyr Zelensky but Joe Biden. The truth is still unknown with allegations against both Russia and Ukraine. There are “false flags” flying on both sides that dismiss clues pointing to one country or the other. However, the Germans appear to be zeroing in on key Ukrainian figures.

Here is the column: Continue reading “A German Court May Have Just Shattered One of the Biden Era’s Biggest Lies” →

International, Politics, Society

Do Good Politics Make for Good Grammar? Users of Grammarly Receive Prompts on Supporting Ukraine

This weekend, I had a curious experience in writing my column on the Hill discussing whether Ukraine committed environmental crimes in the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines and then lied to its allies while receiving billions in aid. While writing the column, the Grammarly program automatically ran to check for typos. Suddenly, a message from the company popped up in the box for possible grammar problems. It was actually a message about my need to support Ukraine. Continue reading “Do Good Politics Make for Good Grammar? Users of Grammarly Receive Prompts on Supporting Ukraine” →

Columns, Criminal law, Politics

Trump Did It: Wasserman Schultz Accuses the President of Causing the Shooting of National Guard Members

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has long performed a key role for many on the left. When there is an argument barred by decency or decorum, Wasserman Schultz is happy to make it, from attacking journalists in her defense of censorship to attempting to rig an election and bar Republicans from ballots as part of her defense of democracy. However, on Friday, the Florida representative set a new low in American politics: attempting to assign some of the blame for the shooting of two National Guardsmen on President Donald Trump. Continue reading “Trump Did It: Wasserman Schultz Accuses the President of Causing the Shooting of National Guard Members” →