The Supreme Court has clarified the subjective component of the "true threats" test, making the First Amendment's exception for true threats a bit clearer
https://popehat.substack.com/p/supreme-court-clarifies-true-threats
The Supreme Court has clarified the subjective component of the "true threats" test, making the First Amendment's exception for true threats a bit clearer
https://popehat.substack.com/p/supreme-court-clarifies-true-threats
@Popehat that's a pretty crazy split among the justices.
Well except for Thomas, who proves once again that he's nutso.
(...)courts have used a (purportedly) objective standard to determine whether a threat is true, asking whether a reasonable person, familiar with the context, would interpret the threat as a sincere expression of intent to do harm.(...)
But for many years, American courts have disagreed on whether there is also a subjective element to the definition (...)"
------
The question to me is not, does that also have a subjective element, but does it have any objective element at all?
@Popehat
In light of the difficulty of proving a threat, should the Colorado case have proceeded under a different charge, such as harassment? Or would any such charge be subject to a first amendment defense?
If someone inundates another person with unwelcome (but non-threatening) communication, is it actionable?