Brief Series

First Amendment

Free speech, protest, social media, campus speech, and religion: what the First Amendment protects and where it stops.

What counts as “incitement” under the First Amendment?4:59

Brief

What counts as “incitement” under the First Amendment?

How Brandenburg and Claiborne Hardware set a high bar before speech can be punished as incitement

A First Amendment Right to Social Media?3:46

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A First Amendment Right to Social Media?

Why there is no constitutional right to stay on Facebook or X, and why platform access still matters

Social Media as "Common Carrier?"6:21

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Social Media as "Common Carrier?"

Can states force Facebook or YouTube to carry everyone? Common carriage and must-carry laws after Moody.

Do You Have a Heckler's Veto Right?2:57

Brief

Do You Have a Heckler's Veto Right?

Why shouting down a speaker you oppose undermines free speech, and how the heckler's veto doctrine began.

What are your rights to protest in public?3:38

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What are your rights to protest in public?

Streets, sidewalks, and parks: when you need a permit to protest and what counts as unlawful obstruction.

Can universities ban hate speech on campus?4:04

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Can universities ban hate speech on campus?

Why public universities cannot ban offensive speech, and where harassment law draws the line on campus.

Can you be fired for speech outside the office?2:21

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Can you be fired for speech outside the office?

Why the First Amendment does not stop a private employer from firing you for what you say on your own time.

Do student athletes have a right to "take a knee?"3:13

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Do student athletes have a right to "take a knee?"

Can a public school punish a student athlete for kneeling during the anthem? The First Amendment answer.

Can You Be Liable for the Emojis You Use?2:52

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Can You Be Liable for the Emojis You Use?

Courts read emojis together with words, so a gun emoji or a thumbs-up can carry real legal consequences.

Can politicians lie about their opponents?2:13

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Can politicians lie about their opponents?

Why defamation's "actual malice" standard is the main legal limit on lies in political campaigns

The Lemon Test Explained7:24

Brief

The Lemon Test Explained

What Lemon v. Kurtzman required, why it fell out of favor, and where it stands after Kennedy v. Bremerton.