Free Speech: Supreme Court Opinions from the Beginning to the Roberts Court is a curated collection of Supreme Court opinions on the topic of free speech. These opinions help students learn how justices think, reason, express themselves, wrestle with contentious issues, and reach decisions on them. The book covers a century of free speech opinions, from the classics to recent decisions by the Roberts Court, that address subversive and offensive speech, incitement to violence, obscenity, and whether corporations have First Amendment rights. It features many precedent-setting cases including Schenck v. United States (shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater), the Pentagon Papers case, and Citizens United. Each opinion has been edited to eliminate unnecessary legal and procedural side issues and ensure accessibility for all readers. The opinions are framed by commentary that provides context and analysis to educate readers about the extent to which we have free speech and how the principles were established. Free Speech is well-suited to political science, history, rhetoric, communications, law, and legal studies courses, and is an excellent reference tool for legal practitioners.

The Freedom of Information Law allows any person to request and obtain, without explanation or justification, existing, identifiable, and unpublished governmental records, including documents, data, and video. Signed into law in New York in 1974, FOIL remains a powerful public panacea in unlocking information and maintaining vital transparency in our state government. Databases detailing public employee compensation, online viewing of highway department agreements and school district superintendents contracts, and text message exchanges all disclosed and made public through FOIL requests are now common, as the last decade has ushered in an increased demand for public information. Orzechowski guides readers through the creation of the law and the concept of open government in the twenty-first century, offering a foundational understanding of how the legislation works, who is exempt, and how the law was created for every citizen of New York State. Dozens of perspectives from state senators to a Pulitzer Prize winner to watchdog organizations outline the impact of New York State's law. Orzechowski examines the drafting of current legislation to strengthen the existing law and offers perspectives from those who are confronted with the real challenges of accessing public information every day: journalists, attorneys, and citizens. This exploration of FOIL, including narrative, scholarly examination, and how-to guides, serves as a tour of a law that continues to impact residents across the state.

Most modern democracies punish hate speech. Less freedom for some, they claim, guarantees greater freedom for others. Heinze rejects that approach, arguing that democracies have better ways of combatting violence and discrimination against vulnerable groups without having to censor speakers. Critiquing dominant free speech theories, Heinze explains that free expression must be safeguarded not just as an individual right, but as an essential attribute of democratic citizenship. The book challenges contemporary state regulation of public discourse by promoting a stronger theory of what democracy is and what it demands. Examining US, European, and international approaches, Heinze offers a new vision of free speech within Western democracies.