My newest article, titled “ICYMI (In Case You Missed It): Moody v. NetChoice, LLC and First Amendment Protections for Social Media Platform Expression,” was recently published in the Tulsa Law Review. digitalcommons.law.utulsa.edu/tlr/vol61/is...

One against 20: National chess master takes on opponents in Rice Lake tournament Local chess players enjoyed the unique opportunity of matching wits against a national master who came to Rice Lake Saturday to discuss strategy before playing 20 people simultaneously in a

Thank you to National Chess Master Okey Iwu for playing a simultaneous exhibition against 20 competitors at the Rice Lake Public Library last weekend. For those interested in playing chess in the area, our club regularly meets on Mondays at 6pm at the library. www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_ch...

Ink blog: Free speech in a new semester Last week we started a new semester at UW-Eau Claire. It is a time filled with energy and enthusiasm. In my Political Science 217 (Freedom of Speech) class, on the

The link below is to my new guest essay, titled “Free Speech in a New Semester,” which was published in the Rice Lake Chronotype. www.apg-wi.com/townnews/pol...

Rice Lake Public Library to host chess tournament with national master The Wisconsin Chessheads, a Rice Lake-based chess club, and the Rice Lake Public Library are hosting a unique opportunity for local chess enthusiasts to challenge National Master Okechukwu (Okey) Iwu

www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_ch...

I was honored to speak about the history of the Bill of Rights at an event put on by the League of Women Voters-Greater Chippewa Valley on Monday. December 15 was the 234th anniversary of the ratification of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Free Speech and Incitement in the Twenty-First Century

In case you haven't noticed, Free Speech and Incitement in the Twenty-First Century, which @joannesweeny.bsky.social and I edited, is now available in paperback from @sunypress.bsky.social! sunypress.edu/Books/F/Free...

Ink blog: Congress’ power to tax and spend This week I am teaching about Congress’ power to tax and spend in my Political Science 403: “U.S. Constitutional Principles – Powers of Government” class at UW-Eau Claire.

The link below is to my new guest essay, titled “Congress’ Power to Tax and Spend,” which was published in the Rice Lake Chronotype. www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_ch...

Why did the city turn off social media comments? Does that violate the First Amendment? Hirsch made the decision to disable commenting on all social media accounts run by the city. She says comments have become increasingly abusive and harassing towards city staff, residents, police

I was recently interviewed for this local news story about First Amendment requirements for government-run social media pages.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

“Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?” Milton, Areopagitica (1644)

Ink blog: The Supreme Court & the Constitution in 2025 The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024-2025 term concluded earlier this summer. The Court again decided major cases that interpreted the U.S. Constitution, with most of the more significant decisions being rel...

The link below is to my new guest essay, titled “The Supreme Court & the Constitution in 2025,” which was published in the Rice Lake Chronotype.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHESS DAY 🥳🎉

Ink blog: Rights of the accused and the U.S. Constitution What the U.S. Constitution protects for persons accused of crime is an important topic that my colleagues and I teach in multiple constitutional law classes at UW-Eau Claire. Most of

The link below is to my new guest essay, titled “Rights of the Accused and the U.S. Constitution,” which was published in the Rice Lake Chronotype. www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_ch...

Free Speech and Incitement in the Twenty-First Century

@joannesweeny.bsky.social & I have co-edited "Free Speech & Incitement in the 21st Century," with @sunypress.bsky.social. Contributors include D.Downs, @adamkunz.bsky.social, T.Shiell, S.Feldman, R.VanLandingham, S.Carthens, C.Wells, H.Schweber, R.Anderson, & D.Canon. Release date is May 1, 2025.

New book explores John Stuart Mill’s influence on U.S. free speech protections A new book analyzes how John Stuart Mill has influenced Supreme Court justices in the development of free speech law.

"The Supreme Court and the Philosopher: How John Stuart Mill Shaped U.S. Free Speech Protections" was released one year ago today. If you haven't picked up a copy of this book co-authored by Troy Kozma and me, below is a review that may pique your interest. firstamendment.mtsu.edu/post/new-boo...

Nice to see Eric T. Kasper at our booth at the Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago! Eric is holding a copy of his new book of Free Speech and Incitement in the Twenty-First Century, which he coedited with JoAnne Sweeny. #MPSA2025 #ReadUP

Last week the UW-Eau Claire Menard Center for Constitutional Studies hosted First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, someone who has represented clients in free expression cases before the U.S. Supreme Court since New York Times Co. v. United States (1971). (photo credit Maddie Kasper)

SCOTUS 2024 This book explains and contextualizes the landmark cases of the US Supreme Court in the term ending 2024 and analyzes ethics scandals

My new book chapter titled, “Lindke v. Freed & O’Connor-Radcliff v. Garnier: State Action & the First Amendment,” was published in SCOTUS 2024: Major Decisions and Developments of the U.S. Supreme Court. link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

"No person shall...be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." U.S. Constitution, Amendment V.

"Academic freedom, though not a specifically enumerated constitutional right, long has been viewed as a special concern of the First Amendment." Regents v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265, 312 (1978).

"That freedom is therefore a special concern of the First Amendment, which does not tolerate laws that cast a pall of orthodoxy over the classroom." Keyishian v. Bd. of Regents, 385 U.S. 589, 603 (1967).

"Our Nation is deeply committed to safeguarding academic freedom, which is of transcendent value to all of us and not merely to the teachers concerned." Keyishian v. Bd. of Regents, 385 U.S. 589, 603 (1967).

"[T]he First Amendment...prohibits any law ‘abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.’ It must be taken as a command of the broadest scope that explicit language, read in the context of a liberty-loving society, will allow." Bridges v. California, 314 U.S. 252, 263 (1941).

The Menard Center for Constitutional Studies is screening "Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely" on Wed, Mar 26 at 5:30pm in Hibbard 103 at UW-Eau Claire. The film's subject, 1st Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, & the film's director, Academy Award winner Yael Melamede, will hold a post-film Q&A session!

Ink blog: The Constitution’s Appointments Clause In my Political Science 403: “U.S. Constitutional Principles – Powers of Government” class that I teach at UW-Eau Claire, one of the subjects we discuss is the appointment of federal

The link below is to my new guest essay, titled “The Constitution’s Appointments Clause,” which was published in the Rice Lake Chronotype. www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_ch...

I learned a lot from International Master John Bartholomew during his chess simultaneous exhibition and Q&A session yesterday at the L.E. Phillips Public Library. Thank you to him and to the Eau Claire Chess Club for organizing the event!

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. So don’t be inactive."

-- Alexei Navalny (June 4, 1976 – February 16, 2024).