The Supreme Court will determine whether a Texas law requiring age verification for adult websites violates the First Amendment. Nadine Strossen of New York Law School and Adam Candeub of Michigan State University join Jeffrey Rosen to preview oral arguments in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, examine the text, history, and tradition of the First Amendment, and debate whether the Texas law is constitutional.

Resources: 

• Nadine Strossen, Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex, and the Fight for Women's Rights (1995, republished 2024) 
• Nadine Strossen, Brief of Amici Curiae First Amendment Scholars in Support of Petitioners, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton  
• Adam Candeub, Amicus Curiae Brief of Scholars in Support of Respondent, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton 
• Adam Candeub, “How the Supreme Court Can Protect Digital Childhood,” Law & Liberty (Jan. 9, 2025) 
• Free Speech Coalition, Brief for Petitioners, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton 
• Attorney General Ken Paxton, Brief for Respondent, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton 
• Judge Jerry Smith, Opinion of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton 
• Ginsberg v. New York (1968) 
• Sable v. FCC (1989) 
• Reno v. ACLU (1997) 
• Ashcroft v. ACLU (2004)

Stay Connected and Learn More

• Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org
• Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr.
• Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate.
• Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.
• Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube.
• Support our important work.

Donate