Government censorship


  • Rossignol v. Voorhaar (4th Cir. on censorship)

    A newspaper publisher brought a 1983 suit for violation of its First Amendment rights, after county sheriff deputies worried about the paper’s Election Day editorials conspired to buy out the paper’s entire stock from vendors across the county. The district court gave summary judgment for the deputies, saying they acted privately and not under color…


  • Snyder v. Ringgold (4th Cir. on access to records)

    Ringgold, a police official, restricted a reporter’s access to police department information, after she aired a story about possible department corruption, by only communicating with her in writing and prohibiting her from any exclusive interviews with department personnel. The reporter brought a §1983 action, claiming that the restrictions violated her 1st 14th Amendment rights. After…