Yet Another Court Says Illinois 'Eavesdropping' Law That Criminalizes Recording Police Is Unconstitutional (original) (raw)

from the free-speech dept

We’ve covered in great detail the ridiculous law in Illinois that makes it a crime to record police, even while they’re on duty, without their knowledge. This seems crazy to us, and it appears the courts are agreeing. Last fall, we noted that a state court had ruled the law was unconstitutional, and now (as pointed out by reader John Katos) another local court has done the same.

Judge Stanley Sacks, who is assigned to the Criminal Courts Building, found the eavesdropping law unconstitutional because it potentially criminalizes “wholly innocent conduct.”

Last we’d heard, Illinois prosecutors were appealing the first ruling, and I imagine they won’t be too happy about this ruling either. But, at some point, it seems they have to recognize the ridiculousness of making it a crime to record police on the job.

Filed Under: constitutionality, free speech, illinois, police, recording