U.S. Sixth Circuit

It was close to a decade ago when Kim Davis became the center of controversy over a decision to not perform her duties as the county clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky. Her refusal to obey the law, citing moral objections, brought down legal consequences that included settlements against her.

Abortion decisions are never easy, but a case before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is almost impossible. If a woman is carrying an unborn child with Down syndrome, does she have the right to end that life? Or can the government ban the abortion because it discriminates based on a disability? In Preterm-Cleveland v. Himes, the appeals court considered the questions in an ongoing public argument. No matter how the justices rule, their answer will not quiet the debate.

Our first take on this case was that it seems to be pretty cut and dried: the Kentucky-based federal district court misinterpreted the Communications Decency Act when it held gossip site TheDirty.com could be held liable for users' scurrilous comments about Sarah Jones, a former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader. The comments discussed her rumored sexual habits and certain sexually transmitted diseases that she was alleged to have acquired.

In an Age Discrimination in Employment Act action claiming discriminatory termination, summary judgment for defendant is affirmed where: 1) there was no evidence to indicate that plaintiff's supervisor's allegedly discriminatory mindset resulted in any adverse employment action; and 2) plaintiff was not replaced by another worker and was terminated as part of a reduction in force.

On July 29, 2016, Michael Wood attended Ohio's Clark County Fair sporting a shirt that read "Fuck the Police." According to Wood, a few people commented on it, including a sheriff's deputy who remarked, "Hey, Wood, I like your shirt." But when a fair executive insisted on Wood's removal, he had a few choice words to say about it.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that the First Amendment rights of student-athletes at Western Michigan University were "likely violated" by the school's COVID-19 vaccine requirements.