Article by: Jeffrey L. Rehmeyer II, Esquire Recently, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a music video that ordered violence against two specific police officers was not protected Free Speech. Jamal Knox and Rashee Beasley were both arrested for drug and weapons charges. While the charges were pending, they wrote and recorded a rap song entitled, ”F_ _k the Police,” which was put on video with still photos of Knox and Beasley displayed in a montage. In the photos, the two are looking into the camera and motioning as if firing weapons. The video was then uploaded to YouTube by… read more »
Another Decision Regarding Student Speech
Article by: Jeffrey L. Rehmeyer II For decades, regulating student speech has been a challenging matter for school officials. Cases surrounding student speech often became very fact sensitive as the Courts have required in many cases that the speech be proven to be disruptive before it is prohibited. The United States Third Circuit Court recently held that breast cancer awareness bracelets worn by middle school students showing the phrase “I <3 Boobies!” could not be categorically banned because they are “not plainly lewd and because they comment on a social issue.” In B.H. v. Easton A.S.D., two middle school girls… read more »
The 2010 Permit Extension Act Reaches Further!
Article by: Jeffrey L. Rehmeyer II On July 6, 2010, General Assembly Act 46 of 2010 was signed into law. Act 46 was an Omnibus Bill amending the Pennsylvania Fiscal Code. A portion of the Act is Article XVI-I: The Permit Extension Act. The Act tolls “(t)he expiration date of an approval by government agency that is granted for or in effect during the extension…” The extension began December 31, 2008 and ends July 2, 2016. When the Act was adopted, it was recognized to apply to local approvals of Townships and Boroughs, such as building permits, land development approvals,… read more »
