SCOTUS Asked to Block State From Investigating Doctors Who Question COVID-19 Policies. Public health policies cannot strip physicians of their free speech rights, the plaintiffs’ lawyer says. By Matthew Vadum (12/07/24)
U.S. Constitution First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ~ constitution.congress.g…
ED NOT: Do you see any clauses stating that the government must evaluate the speech before it is uttered or heard? Neither do we.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas revived an emergency application (previously rejected by Justice Elena Kagan) to block the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) from investigating licensed physicians over criticism of COVID-19 policies WMC deems "as potentially dangerous misinformation that should be suppressed."
The physicians state that medical licenses don't require them to forfeit their free speech rights under the First Amendment.
The application will be considered by all nine justices at a private judicial conference on Jan. 10, 2025. The justices could grant an injunction against WMC, deny the injunction, or schedule the case for oral argument.
Plaintiffs include: Former professional basketball player John Stockton; Drs. Richard Eggleston, Thomas Siler, and Daniel Moynihan; 50 unidentified medical doctors; and Children’s Health Defense (a nonprofit founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.).
ED NOTE
The so-called “misinformation” claimed by WMC turned out to be true information. Even CDC, FDA, and other alphabet health agencies plus mainstream media have grudgingly admitted the truth of the doctors’ statements. Which is why censorship is so dangerous.
Even if the doctors' information turned out to be false, they still should retain their First Amendment rights, even in Washington State. It's up to patients and actual scientists to evaluate the information, not the government.
Our country's Founders wrote the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, and especially the First Amendment, for hard times not easy ones. The First Amendment protects both the right to speak and the right to hear - regardless of whether the government likes what is said.