Honestly, are you being intentionally obtuse, or are you just argumentative by nature?
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, no one has been (before these two girls) charged with this statute.
"I find it quite hard to believe that slander/libel was never discussed in law school."
Sweetheart, they aren't being charged with "slander/libel" are they? They're being charged with "cyber-bullying"
In this country, defamation of character suits are NOT litigated in criminal court as they are NOT crimes - not federal crimes, not state crimes. They are CIVIL torts. Do you understand what a TORT is?
“Honestly, are you being intentionally obtuse, or are you just argumentative by nature?”
Interesting, that’s what I was wondering about you.
The Florida cyber-bullying law is listed as a criminal offence, not a civil one.
Since they are not being charged w/defamation, they are not being tried in civil court. That’s the only point, which I thought was patently obvious, I am making about the civil/criminal nature of THIS case.
Nevertheless, your proposed defense on first amendment grounds does not seem like it would hold water, given what is known about this case, and what I have read about concerning limits on free speech.
Therefore, again, I ask you to cite a SIMILAR case where first amendment grounds were used to get a dismissal.
So, if there’s ANY case where someone was charged with a criminal or civil offence involving the defendant purporting to be another person and got a dismissal based on first amendment grounds.
Or perhaps you can simply point to a law book that indicates there IS NO LIMIT to free speech.
Ultimately, that is the question here.
Is there a limit and does this case cross that boundary?
I say yes to both.
Have to sign off now.
I’ll be checking next week for that link.
Good job. Your posts have been right on.