Kansas v. Boettger

Kansas asks us to decide whether the First Amendment prohibits States from criminalizing threats to "[c]ommit violence ... in reckless disregard of the risk of causing ... fear." Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-5415 (a)(1) (2018). Respondent Timothy Boettger was convicted for telling the son of a police detective that he " 'was going to end up finding [his] dad in a ditch.' " --- Kan. ----, ----, 450 P.3d 805 , 807 (2019). Respondent Ryan Johnson was separately convicted for telling his mother that he " 'wish[ed] [she] would die,' " that he would " 'help [her] get there,' " and that he was " 'going to…