Panelists to discuss landmark Citizens United case

March 14, 2010 by Tom Bowden

“The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy on behalf of a Supreme Court majority in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. He was referring to the speech bans that since 2002 have muzzled corporations under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.

No more. The Citizens United decision struck down the ban, not only liberating America’s corporations to speak out during campaigns but also unleashing a torrent of commentary, both praising and denouncing the Court’s actions. As the heated debate gets hotter, a timely panel discussion is slated for Tuesday, March 16, in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights and the Institute for Justice.

“Citizens United and the Future of Campaign Finance Law” will feature a lively debate among three lawyers who filed briefs on opposite sides in the case, and an academic expert on the history of free speech. I’m fortunate enough to be moderating the event, which will review the case in historical context, evaluate its merits, and look to the future. One crucial issue on the table is whether such regulations should survive at all.

One of the panelists will be Steve Simpson, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice who filed an amicus brief urging that the speech ban be overturned. He’s also written an article assessing the case in The Objective Standard called “Citizens United and the Battle for Free Speech in America.” Also appearing will be Dr. Eric Daniels, research assistant professor at the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism, at Clemson University in South Carolina, an expert in the history of free speech in America.

Taking the opposite position will be two lawyers who filed amicus briefs urging that the restrictions on corporate speech be upheld. They are Doug Kendall, founder and President of the Constitutional Accountability Center, and Tara Malloy, an associate attorney at the Campaign Legal Center.

Lunch will be served after the event. RSVP using this link (and don’t worry if you missed the Friday deadline). I hope to see you there.

image: wiki commons CC/Dennis Myts