According to a recent Federal Appeals court ruling, Republican members of Congress who confiscate citizens’ cell phones or cameras and do not allow filming at town halls are violating their constituents First Amendment rights.
Court rules that politicians may not seize citizens’ cameras at town hall meetings
What about Supreme Court Justices who confiscate voice recorders at speeches in public places?
Where are you going to ultimately appeal that case? It’s the similar problem with rules of ethics. The U.S. Supreme Court Judges are the only judges who are not subject to any rules of ethics.
Erich,
If the act of confiscation is itself unlawful, could the citizens press criminal charges of robbery against the the enforcement officers who take the cameras? Just wondering..
Niklaus: It seems like it is an unlawful taking to me, which would likely give rise to an action for conversion. I haven’t done the research, but that is my gut feeling. It might qualify as the crime of stealing, but good luck getting the prosecutor to prosecute a police officer, or those on whose behalf he/she acted.