The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear several important First Amendment cases this term.
"One of the major themes emerging for the 2023-2024 term . . . is the justices’ interest in clarifying First Amendment law as it applies to social media and questions of government action," the Daily Caller reports.
The outlet adds, "The high court’s docket now includes multiple First Amendment cases . . ."
Some of the cases that the justices will hear regard to what extent the government can pressure a social media company to censor users' speech without violating the First Amendment.
It has been revealed, for example, that the administration of President Joe Biden pressured multiple Big Tech companies - including Twitter - to censor user speech that conflicted with the administration's official narratives on such things as the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration alleging that this is a violation of the First Amendment. And, now, the justices of the Supreme Court have agreed to hear the case. The case is Missouri v. Biden.
There are also two other cases of this nature that the justices will hear, including Murthy v. Missouri and NRA v. Vullo.
The Daily Caller reports:
These cases include Murthy v. Missouri, challenging the federal government’s communication with social media companies to censor speech, and NRA v. Vullo, a lawsuit brought by the National Rifle Association (NRA) against a New York official who pressured banks not to do business with them.
Then, there are two First Amendment cases from Florida and Texas.
The Daily Caller reports:
Two challenges against laws in Texas and Florida intended to crack down on censorship brought by NetChoice, a trade association whose members include tech companies like Google and Meta, have also made their way before the justices
Finally, the justices, in October, heard two other First Amendment Cases - Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliff and Lindke v. Freed - regarding public officials who blocked constituents online.
At least one of these First Amendment cases - if not more - is expected to produce a landmark First Amendment ruling.
Considering that the Supreme Court has a conservative majority, it is expected the justice will rule in favor of free speech protections afforded by the First Amendment. But, one can never say for sure.
The cases that the justices have yet to hear are likely to be heard this spring, although the dates for oral argument have yet to be set.