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Hal Turner, who is facing criminal charges for threatening to assault or kill a judge after calling three federal judges in Illinois “cunning, ruthless, deceitful scum” and declaring that they “must die”, arrives at Federal Court this morning in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Closing arguments at Turner’s trial are scheduled to begin Friday. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) Question: Do you think most bloggers know in the Inland Northwest know enough about laws re: libel, slander, and in this case threatening others, to avoid legal trouble?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Cabbage Boy on December 04 at 9:26 a.m.
I thought Ziggles was a bit younger.
Liz on December 04 at 9:27 a.m.
I don’t know in the inland Northwest, but I’ve seen enough bloggers around in general that appear to have no clue about libel and slander laws. Or don’t care. Or feel as invincible as Tiger Woods. Or something like that.
I don’t know that I’ve seen death threats, but I’ve seen plenty of bad-mouthing that I am amazed goes untouched by legal action.
lewis8457 on December 04 at 10:58 a.m.
face it we have no voice. freedom of speech is no more. you can be sued at any time by any one for any reason..
fortboise on December 04 at 12:09 p.m.
I would guess not. I had a brush with a libel suit (related to a non-profit I volunteer for, rather than blogging), and it was an education about the legal process.
Even with a case which was pretty much absurd and without merit, someone with money to burn came make a lot of trouble for you.