In 1931, the U.S. Supreme Court took up a landmark First Amendment case—Near v. Minnesota. In their decision the justices ruled the Minnesota Public Nuisance Law, which had been used to stop publication of a so-called “scandal sheet,” allowed for prior restraint of the press and represented an unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment.
Mitchell Hamline will dive into the history of that case and its modern-day applications through panel discussions and presentations during a free CLE on Tuesday, April 16, 9 am—1:30 pm. The event will be in the Mitchell Hamline Auditorium.
Featured speaker Nadine Strossen, a professor of law at New York Law School and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union, will discuss hate speech regulation during a lunchtime address at 12:30 pm.
The program is free, but registration is required.
Approval is being sought for 3 CLE credits.
The event is co-sponsored by The Dietz Family Fund of the St. Paul Foundation, supported by Chuck Dietz ’57, and the Mitchell Hamline History Center, supported by the Minnesota Historical Society.
| 9—9:10 am | Program introduction from Mitchell Hamline president and dean Mark C. Gordon |
| 9:10–9:45 am | Professors Tony Winer and Mike Steenson explore the colorful history of Near v. Minnesota |
| 9:45–10:15 am | Professor Raleigh Levine will discuss some of the most significant post-Near prior restraint cases. |
| 10:15—10:30 am | Break |
| 10:30—11:15 am | Civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong will explore the question of whether “hate speech” should be regulated or protected as free speech in the interests of justice and equality. |
| 11:15—12:15 pm | Panel discussion featuring Professor Jon Kahn (moderator), Jaylani Hussein, Anthony Sanders, and Professor Tony Winer. Panelists will consider some of the challenges posed by hate speech in diverse contexts ranging from on-line doxing to the Neo-Nazi marches in Charlottesville to hate speech codes and trigger warnings on university campuses. |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch with featured speaker Nadine Strossen, a professor of law at New York Law School and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union. Strossen will discuss her 2018 book, “Hate: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, Not Censorship.” |