Strict scrutiny

A federal judge Wednesday banned the enforcement of a century-old statute that prevents North Dakota citizens from campaigning on Election Day, calling the law “archaic” and “unconstitutional.”

A Massachusetts district judge ordered a blogger to remove from his website all references to a woman who faced criminal charges related to a car accident that seriously injured a pedestrian. A hearing Monday will bring into question the constitutionality of the order, which some argue violates the First Amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a federal law that criminalizes lying about military medals violates the First Amendment.

In a 6-3 decision, the Court affirmed the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco (9th Cir.) in United States v. Alvarez that the federal Stolen Valor Act was unconstitutional because of the severe limitations it placed on the First Amendment.

Military prosecutors and the defense have concluded their presentation of evidence in the Article 32 hearing of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, and closing arguments will begin Thursday, the Washington Post reports.

A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that the First Amendment protects an online speaker - who made derogatory comments about a religious leader through Twitter - from being prosecuted under the federal anti-stalking law.