About The Author
Marc Charisse is the editor of The Evening Sun. Dr. Charisse has a Ph.D. in First Amendment law and history, and has taught communication law and constitutional law at the University of Washington in Seattle and Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla. Charisse can be reached at mcharisse@eveningsun.com.
Author Archives: Marc Charisse
In defense of ‘traditional’ marriage
Even though I grew up in Las Vegas, I’ve never been much of a betting man. But if I were, I’d be willing to lay 2 to 1 odds that the Supreme Court will strike down the federal Defense of … Continue reading
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Tagged 14th amendment, constitutional law, gay marriage, supreme court
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Can we be safe in a free society?
As happens every time there’s a mass shooting – a tragedy of increasing frequency, it seems – gun dealers nationwide reported a spike in sales in the days following the terrible slaughter this month in Connecticut. The experts tell us … Continue reading
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Tagged constitutional law, Gun control, Newton shootings, second amendment, supreme court
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Standing up for Pledge’s real meaning
I used to get quite a few of those loopy mass emails that traffic in mass misinformation. You know the kind I mean, the ones with the president allegedly refusing to salute the flag or shaking hands with Joseph Stalin … Continue reading
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Rewrite the Constitution, or this book?
“The Daily Show” is a news show for people who don’t watch news shows. Similarly, “Me the People,” by Daily Show writer Kevin Bleyer, is a book on the U.S. Constitution for people unlikely to read books about the U.S. … Continue reading
No need for new military funeral law
“There oughta be a law!” Well, there is, actually. “No, no. A law to keep those despicable Westboro folks from protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers.” Well there is, actually. In 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law … Continue reading
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A right to remain anonymous
I’m Marc Charisse and I approved this message. I don’t have much choice, actually, working as I do in a profession that puts a premium on standing behind what you believe in by putting your name on it. Most newspapers, … Continue reading
Supreme Court recognizes a ‘right’ to lie
While the health-care ruling last Thursday was getting all the attention, the Supreme Court quietly decided a First Amendment case that recognizes a right to lie. Or, more accurately, recognizes a right to be free from government prosecution for lying … Continue reading
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Tagged first amendment, free speech, right to lie, supreme court
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Court less divided than you might think
One of the most common complaints I hear at our regular Tuesday constitutional law lunches is that the Supreme Court is too often divided, 5-4, along predictably ideological lines. That suggests, of course, that the justices’ opinions are determined more … Continue reading
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Tagged constitutional law, ideology, politics, Roberts court, supreme court
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Presenting the Great Prognosticator
OK, I was wrong about the Supreme Court’s vote on health care. For months, I’ve been confidently predicting a 6-3 vote upholding the law. But I was right on about Chief Justice John Roberts, who I insisted would do the … Continue reading
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Tagged Chief Justice John Robers, constitutional law, helath care vote, Obamacare, supreme court
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More speech always better than less
We started meeting a couple of years ago in downtown Hanover every Tuesday, ostensibly to debate the big issues of constitutional law. But the weekly lunches at the Reader’s Cafe are really civil discussions of law, local politics, the newspaper … Continue reading
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Tagged campaign financing, Citizens United, first amendment, supreme court
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