Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center
The Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center promotes understanding and appreciation of the First Amendment through scholarship, debate, and civil discourse. Founded on the belief that open discussion is vital to democracy and the rule of law, the Center hosts events such as lectures, book launches, the Bowden Fellow Speakers Series, and forums for diverse and dissenting views.
Upcoming Events
Bowden Fellows Speaker Series: Greg Dickinson (Nebraska-Lincoln Law)
Moderator
Calls to “future proof” the legal system against emerging technologies—AI, algorithmic decision-making, deepfakes, and more—now pervade public discourse. Professor Gregory Dickinson challenges the premise that rapid technological change requires similarly rapid lawmaking. Drawing on history, sociology, and public-choice theory, he argues that the most powerful tools for governing technological innovation are the general-purpose principles already embedded in our legal system. From Gutenberg’s press to modern AI systems, premature, technology-specific regulation often entrenches incumbents, suppresses experimentation, and destabilizes legal principles that have proven durable across technological eras. A legal system committed to generality, stability, and adaptability—rather than bespoke rules for each new invention—better protects both innovation and the rule of law.
Lunch will be served. Please register at the link. We hope you join us!
Bowden Fellows Speaker Series: Erica Goldberg (Gonzaga Law)
More details TBA.