Dara E. Purvis is a scholar of family law, contracts, feminist legal theory, and sexuality and the law. Purvis is a professor and associate dean at Penn State Law. Some of her research includes how the law reinforces gender stereotypes and reforms that would treat people more equally.
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Alexander Meiklejohn
Alexander Meiklejohn argued that the First Amendment’s primary purpose is to ensure that voters are free to debate in order to make informed choices about their self-government.
Anti-Dial-a-Porn Act of 1989 (1989)
The Anti-Dial-a-Porn Act of 1989 was overturned for a blanket prohibition on indecent and obscene telephone recordings. Indecency is protected by the First Amendment.
Boos v. Barry(1988)
Boos v. Barry (1988) ruled that a D.C. law violated the First Amendment by banning the display of signs criticizing a foreign government outside that government’s embassy.
Boycotts
Courts have recognized boycotts as having First Amendment protection as long as their goals are to influence political reform rather than economic gain.
Cornelius v. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (1985)
Cornelius v. NAACP Legal Defense Fund (1985) said excluding some organizations from soliciting contributions from federal employees didn't violate the First Amendment.
Herbert Wechsler
Herbert Wechsler was a leading lawyer and legal scholar best known in First Amendment circles for arguing the landmark libel case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan.