Prof. Kirtley Quoted on First Amendment Implications of Environmental Activist's Sentencing

Professor Jane Kirtley was quoted by Outside magazine in a story about the sentencing of environmental activist Tim DeChristopher who was convicted of disrupting an oil and gas lease auction. The presiding judge said the defendant was sentenced to two years imprisonment not only for civil disobedience, but for "his continuing trail of statements." Kirtley said, "It is to me highly suspect that the judge would enhance the sentence based on what appears to be First Amendment-protected speech."