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Reading Room Document

Intergovernmental Immunity for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Its Employees When Providing Certain Abortion Services

The rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Reproductive Health Services is a lawful exercise of the VA's authority. States may not impose criminal or civil liability on VA employees--including doctors, nurses, and administrative staff--who provide or facilitate abortions or related services in a manner authorized by federal law, including VA's rule. The Supremacy Clause bars state officials from penalizing VA employees for performing their federal functions, whether through criminal prosecution, license revocation proceedings, or civil litigation. The original opinion is available at https://www.justice.gov/olc/file/1537431/download.

September 21, 2022

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Opinions published by the OLC, including those released in response to our FOIA lawsuit

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Free Speech & Social Media

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Knight Institute, Gun Owners’ Associations Urge Second Circuit to Block NY Gun Law’s Social Media Disclosure Requirement

Say provision violates First Amendment and invites discrimination

Privacy & Surveillance

Privacy & Surveillance

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Pegasus spyware was used to hack reporters’ phones. I’m suing its creators

When you’re infected by Pegasus, spies effectively hold a clone of your phone – we’re fighting back

Transparency & Democracy

Transparency & Democracy

Featured

New DOJ Regulations Are a Victory for Press Freedom, But More Work Remains

  

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Optimizing for What? Algorithmic Amplification and Society

Columbia University

Optimizing for What? Algorithmic Amplification and Society

A two-day symposium exploring algorithmic amplification and distortion as well as potential interventions

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