Eric T. Kasper
@erictkasper.bsky.social
Political Science Professor & Director of the Menard Center for Constitutional Studies at UW-Eau Claire. I study the 1st Amendment, SCOTUS, & pop culture. Citizen posting on matters of public concern. Amateur chess player.
Pinned
Eric T. Kasper
@erictkasper.bsky.social
· Sep 21
"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."
I was recently interviewed for this local news story about First Amendment requirements for government-run social media pages.
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
www.wqow.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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."
September 21, 2025 at 1:54 AM
"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)
September 20, 2025 at 10:15 PM
“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)
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.
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...
www.apg-wi.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:22 PM
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.
Reposted by Eric T. Kasper
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHESS DAY 🥳🎉
July 20, 2025 at 12:42 PM
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHESS DAY 🥳🎉
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...
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
www.apg-wi.com
June 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
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...
@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.
Free Speech and Incitement in the Twenty-First Century
sunypress.edu
April 30, 2025 at 1:14 AM
@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.
"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...
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.
firstamendment.mtsu.edu
April 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
"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...
Reposted by Eric T. Kasper
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)
April 2, 2025 at 4:08 AM
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)
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...
SCOTUS 2024
This book explains and contextualizes the landmark cases of the US Supreme Court in the term ending 2024 and analyzes ethics scandals
link.springer.com
April 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
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.
March 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"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).
March 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
"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).
"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).
March 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
"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).
March 21, 2025 at 5:09 PM
"[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!
March 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
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!
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...
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
www.apg-wi.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
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!
February 24, 2025 at 2:41 AM
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).
-- Alexei Navalny (June 4, 1976 – February 16, 2024).
February 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
"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).
-- Alexei Navalny (June 4, 1976 – February 16, 2024).
"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 177 (1803).
February 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 177 (1803).
"Since this Court has consistently exercised the power to construe and delineate claims arising under express powers, it must follow that the Court has authority to interpret claims with respect to powers alleged to derive from enumerated powers." United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 704 (1974).
February 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
"Since this Court has consistently exercised the power to construe and delineate claims arising under express powers, it must follow that the Court has authority to interpret claims with respect to powers alleged to derive from enumerated powers." United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 704 (1974).
"Every citizen or subject of another country, while domiciled here, is within the allegiance and the protection, and consequently subject to the jurisdiction, of the United States. His allegiance to the United States is direct and immediate." United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649, 693 (1898).
February 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
"Every citizen or subject of another country, while domiciled here, is within the allegiance and the protection, and consequently subject to the jurisdiction, of the United States. His allegiance to the United States is direct and immediate." United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649, 693 (1898).
"[A]n inferior officer under the Appointments Clause[ has] limited jurisdiction and tenure and lack[s] policymaking or significant administrative authority." Morrison v. Olson, 487 U.S. 654, 691 (1988).
February 15, 2025 at 2:46 AM
"[A]n inferior officer under the Appointments Clause[ has] limited jurisdiction and tenure and lack[s] policymaking or significant administrative authority." Morrison v. Olson, 487 U.S. 654, 691 (1988).