The use of abusive language toward another person is a criminal offense in a small number of United States states, where it is typically charged alongside another offense such as aggressive driving or assault rather than standing alone. In 1989 the New York State Court of Appeals struck down that state's own abusive language law, ruling that the speech it covered was protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, a decision that has since limited how far such statutes can reach elsewhere.
Facts
Notable ExampleNew York's abusive language statute, struck down by the New York State Court of Appeals in 1989 for violating the First Amendment to the United States Constitution 1 Classification
Offense GradeMinor or Summary Offense 1 Sources
1. Abusive Language (Wikipedia)
United States sectionQuote, United States section
In 1989 the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that abusive language was protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
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