Free Republic

The First Amendment does not allow the United States to adopt "Oceania's Ministry of Truth." That line from George Orwell's dystopian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" opens U.S. District Judge John Sinatra's order Thursday imposing a preliminary injunction on New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is threatening pro-life pregnancy centers for telling women about so-called abortion pill reversal, as their lawsuit proceeds. Her office may not enforce state consumer fraud laws against the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), Gianna's House and Options Care Center, which sued in May, for referring to APR, calling it safe and effective or...

The Empire State's latest gun-control law was dealt another setback in federal court today. Judge John Sinatra of the Western District of New York, a Trump appointee, found the state's total ban on licensed gun-carry inside places of worship is unconstitutional. He issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the provision to go into effect immediately and remain in effect until he decides on a request for a preliminary injunction. Judge Sinatra said the state's gun ban in churches violates the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers...

A federal court in Buffalo has weighed on the side of music venues and musicians who oppose Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus-related restrictions on live music....At issue are Cuomo’s orders, enforced by the State Liquor Authority, that prohibit venues with liquor licenses from selling tickets or using cover charges for live entertainment, and ban advertising for such shows. The rules permit only music that is “incidental” to a dining experience, not the main draw. The most recent ruling came in a case filed by Buffalo guitarist Michael Hund. He argued the rules are unconstitutional and keep him from earning a living....