Syllabus:

Week 1: Course introduction

· Interpreting the First Amendment

· Is religion special?

· Considering psychology studies

Week 2: Establishment clause - religious symbols in public places

· Lynch v. Donnelly (nativity scene)

· Allegheny v. ACLU (nativity scene)

· Analysing the endorsement test

Week 3: Religious symbols in public places (cont’d.)

· Van Orden v. Perry (ten commandments)

· Town of Greece v. Galloway (prayer at town meetings)

· Ceremonial deism

Week 4: ungraded moot court exercise (inauguration prayer)

Week 5: Freedom to publish

· New York Times v. United States (Pentagon Papers)

· Nebraska Press v. Stuart (media coverage of trials)

Week 6: Right to be forgotten (right to erasure) – EU perspective

· German case concerning murderer’s right to be forgotten

· Dutch surgeon case

· Comparison to U.S. Supreme Court (Florida Star v. B.J.F.)

Week 7: Right to gather news

· Branzburg v. Hayes (anonymous sources)

· Comparison to ECtHR

Week 8: graded moot court activity

Week 9: Indecent expression

· FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (broadcasting vulgar speech)

· Erzoznik v. Jacksonville (publicly visible screen nudity)

Week 10: regulation of social media and related issues

Course Goals:

The objectives of this course are: 1) to deepen students’ understanding of U.S. interpretation of freedom of expression; 2) to provide students the context to compare and assess various approaches to such issues; 3) to provide the framework for students to determine the appropriate boundaries of individual freedoms; and 4) to aid students in acquiring and using sophisticated legal English vocabulary and grammar.

Means of communication:

This course is taught in person.

(In case distance learning is required due to government closure of universities, then Zoom will be used.)