First Things First: A Discussion of the First Amendment and the Rule of Law

Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/02/2026
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

On March 2, the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy will be joining with the American Constitution Society to present a panel discussion of the First Amendment and the Rule of Law.

The rights protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are essential for the proper functioning of a democracy. Too frequently, the First Amendment’s core freedoms are ignored or weaponized to suit the political and policy priorities of those in power. The U.S. Supreme Court inconsistently applies longstanding First Amendment jurisprudence, ignoring precedents it deems inconvenient. The Administration targets those whose speech it disfavors, from law firms to private individuals. State and local governments are quick to criminalize protected protest activity to stifle dissent and chill social movements. These actions raise important questions as to whether our legal and political systems can safeguard First Amendment rights for all, or whether skewed and selective application of these freedoms will become the norm.

Join us in Room 5042 on Monday, March 2nd at 12:00PM  for a discussion about recent challenges to the First Amendment. Panelists include:

• Mary-Rose Papandrea, Burchfield Professor of First Amendment and Free Speech Law at GW Law
• Micheal Gerhardt, Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at UNC School of Law
• David Ardia, Reef C. Ivey II Excellence Fund Term Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center for Media Law and Policy

The conversation will be moderated by Professor Bill Marshall, William Rand Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law at the UNC School of Law. Lunch will be provided!