Anti-SLAPP Legislation To Get Wednesday Hearing

A House Judiciary subcommittee plans a hearing Wednesday on legislation aimed at curbing so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, designed to silence people who post online negative reviews or critical comments (see 1604140072). Witnesses for the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee's hearing on the Speak Free Act (HR-2304) -- introduced more than a year ago by Reps. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. -- include Bruce Brown, executive director of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Haynes and Boone attorney Laura Prather; Cardozo School of Law professor Alexander Reinert; and Aaron Schur, Yelp director-litigation. "SLAPPs are designed to intimidate Americans from speaking about matters of public concern, potentially violating constitutional protections such as the right to free speech and the right to petition one’s government," said Farenthold, Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who chairs the subcommittee, and House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., in a joint statement. They said they will "explore" how the bill could end the practice of SLAPPs, which they described as "wasteful and intimidating." The 1 p.m. hearing will be in 2226 Rayburn.