Print PDF Constitutional Law and Media
We have considerable knowledge and experience in litigating constitutional law issues for our clients. When clients are troubled by the scope or effect of statutes, regulations, or other governmental activities, our lawyers analyze whether those governmental activities run afoul of constitutional rights and protections and, where appropriate, pursue litigation to vindicate those constitutional rights and protections. Our attorneys have appeared in the United States Supreme Court, the federal courts of appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court, and many other federal and state courts in a wide variety of cases that have addressed and resolved constitutional questions.
Our constitutional law practice runs the gamut of issues that may arise under the United States and Ohio Constitutions. Our engagements in this area have included the following matters, among many others:
- protection of First Amendment rights for national religious organizations
- representation of taxpayers challenging taxing schemes under state constitutional uniformity requirements
- representation of landowners challenging the constitutionality of zoning laws
- representation of clients raising challenges to local regulations under the Home Rule provision of the Ohio Constitution
- representation of the Ohio General Assembly in its challenge to the gubernatorial veto process under the Ohio Constitution
- representation of businesses challenging the constitutionality of the state bidding process
- vindication of privacy rights under the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions
- representation of clients in actions alleging preemption of state and local laws by federal law, through operation of the Supremacy Clause
- representation of clients in litigation challenging state and federal legislation and regulations as being in violation of other constitutional provisions
Our firm also has a strong tradition of advocacy for clients in media law matters and has represented clients in some of the leading Ohio cases addressing defamation, media access, and public records issues. We also offer our media clients pre-publication review and counsel on potential defamation claims.
Our work in this area is varied, and includes the following engagements:
- preparation of the Broadcasters’ Guide to Advertising in Ohio
- representation of clients in cases challenging restrictions on commercial speech and advertising
- representation of clients in cases involving copyright infringement over the internet
- defense of clients sued on defamation and invasion of privacy claims
- representation of clients in cases involving Ohio’s public records and open meetings laws
