Each third full week of October, the nonpartisan Free Speech Week is a nationwide recognition of the important role free speech plays in the United States.
Texas Law is recognizing it, too.
Recently, Professor David Rabban, the Dahr Jamail, Randall Hage Jamail, and Robert Lee Jamail Regents Chair in Law and author of “Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right,” spoke with Iowa Public Radio about how academic freedom has been established and how it is being challenged.
At Texas Law, Free Speech Week events include:
“Advisory Opinions Podcast Live!”
On Monday, Oct. 20, at 1:00 p.m. at Texas Law, the Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center, Civitas Institute, and UT Philosophy Professor Tara Smith are sponsoring a live recording of the “Advisory Opinions” legal podcast. Hosts Sarah Isgur—editor of SCOTUSblog—and David French—columnist for The New York Times—will talk about recent developments in the law, the courts, their collision with politics, and why it all matters.
The First Amendment Center is also launching a free speech essay writing contest open to all UT undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled full-time in the spring 2026 semester. The contest will be judged both in undergraduate and graduate categories, with submissions due by the end of January 2026.
“Is Europe Done with Free Speech? Populism and Its Censors”
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, sponsors the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, Clements Center for National Security, School of Civic Leadership, and Civitas Institute, in collaboration with the Claremont Institute conservative think tank, will host Christopher Caldwell, columnist for the Times and senior fellow at the institute, as he discusses populism and censorship in Europe.
Across Europe, populist movements have gained widespread support, yet they face growing restrictions on their political participation and exercise of speech. From the shores of Ireland to the gates of Moscow, debates over immigration, nationalism, and cultural identity have become flashpoints for decisions on who gets to speak in the public square—and who decides what counts as acceptable opinion. Caldwell will examine how European governments and institutions are responding to the success of populist movements and what these responses reveal about the state of democracy in the West.