Supreme Court Rules on Facebook Threats – Elonis v. United States

Criminal Law & Procedure Practice Group Courthouse Steps Teleforum

On Monday, June 1, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Anthony Douglas Elonis, who was prosecuted under a 1939 law prohibiting the communication of threats for allegedly threatening his estranged wife via Facebook. Has the Supreme Court clarified the legal status of violent speech on the internet, or merely added to the confusion? Our experts will discuss the opinion and its implications.

• John Elwood, Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP
• Kent S. Scheidegger, Legal Director & General Counsel, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

On Monday, June 1, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Anthony Douglas Elonis, who was prosecuted under a 1939 law prohibiting the communication of threats for allegedly threatening his estranged wife via Facebook. Has the Supreme Court clarified the legal status of violent speech on the internet, or merely added to the confusion? Our experts will discuss the opinion and its implications.

• John Elwood, Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP
• Kent S. Scheidegger, Legal Director & General Counsel, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

Call begins at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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