> First Amendment. The charges are unconstitutional. <
The 1A protects you against things like insulting a police officer or other government official. I don’t know how far it goes when insulting a private person.
Also, some states used to have “fighting words” laws. It was a crime to say something that could be interpreted as trying to cause a fight. I don’t know if those laws are still existence.
Anyway, I’m a “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” kind of a guy. So I see no harm done by that woman uttering one word.
But a Minnesota jury might think differently.
How far does it go? It goes all the way.
Also, some states used to have “fighting words” laws. It was a crime to say something that could be interpreted as trying to cause a fight. I don’t know if those laws are still existence.
Uttering fighting words is not a crime. Its a defense. For example if you call me a poopy head and I punch you in the face, my defense (in states that allow it) would be fighting words. You could not be charged with calling someone a poopy head. America is not Germany.
Anyway, I’m a “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” kind of a guy. So I see no harm done by that woman uttering one word.
This is the correct constitutional view. You have no right to not be offended.
But a Minnesota jury might think differently.
But if they do, the federal courts will think differently because the constitution says differently.