Anuj C. Desai, J.D., A.B., is the Volkman-Bascom professor of law at the University of Wisconsin, where he teaches in both the law school and the iSchool, or The Information School. He teaches courses on cyberlaw, First Amendment, intellectual freedom, statutory interpretation and legislation and regulation. His writing focuses on understanding how social, historical and institutional contexts shape law. He has published numerous articles on topics related to the First Amendment, including in the Stanford Law Review and Federal Communications Law Journal. Prior to entering academia, Professor Desai practiced law with the Seattle, Washington, firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, where his practice focused on the First Amendment, defamation, newsgathering, copyright and trademark litigation. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
More Articles from this Author
Blount v. Rizzi (1971)
In Blount v. Rizzi (1971) nullified provisions allowing the postmaster general to refuse to mail obscene matter. The First Amendment requires safeguards for protected expression.
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982)
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982) held that public schools can't remove books to suppress ideas. Schools must follow the First Amendment.
John Marshall Harlan II
Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan II was an architect of First Amendment jurisprudence in obscenity law, freedom of association, expressive conduct, and offensive speech.
Lamont v. Postmaster General(1965)
Lamont v. Postmaster General (1965) used the First Amendment to invalidate a federal law allowing the Postmaster General to regulate communist propaganda through the mail.
Throughout U.S. history, the mail has played a crucial role in shaping jurisprudence on free expression, but its impact on the First Amendment has diminished in recent years.
United States Postal Service v. Greenburgh Civic Associations(1981)
USPS v. Greenburgh Civic Associations (1981) said a law against putting unstamped messages in mailboxes was content neutral and did not violate the First Amendment.
United States v. American Library Association (2003)
US v. American Library Association (2003) struck down a First Amendment challenge against a law restricting funding to libraries that did not install Internet filtering software.