Broken State Speech Shield Unites Courts, Lawmakers Seeking Fix

Massachusetts lawyers, judges, and lawmakers are all asking for more clarity on the application of a law that protects First Amendment rights, causing the Supreme Judicial Court to consider revisions to a framework it recently altered.

Anti-SLAPP laws, or laws against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, are in place in most states and create a pathway for courts to quickly and cheaply throw out meritless lawsuits that seek to intimidate people exercising their First Amendment rights.

However, Massachusetts has a relatively weak law compared to other states and lags in promptly resolving cases. Additionally, the law only covers speech related ...