On Wednesday, January 28th, the Chicago Lawyer Chapter held “Free Speech and Human Dignity,” a program featuring Steven J. Heyman, Professor of Law and Leading First Amendment Scholar at Chicago-Kent College of Law and author of Free Speech and Human Dignity. Chicago Chapter Director of Law Firm Outreach Margaret P. Battersby, an associate with Levin & Perconti, made introductory remarks.

Attended by dozens of lawyers, policymakers, and several judges, the program offered attendees a well-versed and intriguing glimpse into Professor Heyman’s book, a work that sets forth a liberal humanist theory of the First Amendment. His theory seeks to reconcile the opposing views of liberals and progressives as well as civil libertarians who, in recent years, have become sharply divided between strong advocates of free speech and those who would regulate it to protect human dignity and equality. Professor Heyman spoke at length on the application of his theory to a wide range of controversies ranging from hate speech and pornography to anti-abortion demonstrations and picketing at military funerals. The program concluded with an exceptionally engaging discussion with the author regarding questions raised by his theory and its application.

Published in 2008 by Yale University Press, Professor Heyman’s book, Free Speech and Human Dignity, presents a new interpretation of the First Amendment premised on an original understanding of its meaning as implying restraints on speech which infringes on the rights of others and provides an argument for free speech limits couched within the natural rights tradition. In July 2008, Professor Heyman’s book was the subject of an ACS panel discussion held at the Newseum/First Amendment Center in Washington, D.C.