This book comprehensively explores and critiques how the current U.S. Supreme Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, has reshaped First Amendment law. It argues that this Court has consistently used First Amendment law to promote a limited view of freedom, while bolstering social and political stability.
This book examines every decision about expressive freedom the Supreme Court handed down between Chief Justice Roberts' ascent in September 2005 and Justice Scalia's death in February 2016. During Chief Justice Roberts' tenure, the Court has issued more than forty decisions that interpret the First Amendment's speech protections. These decisions comprise one of the most important parts of this Court's record and legacy while inspiring sharply divergent judgments.
The author explores many of the key recurring debates in First Amendment law as well as providing much needed attention on the special problems of the government preserve cases and the high stakes of the electoral process cases.