The University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media hosted its annual Scripps Howard State of the First Amendment Address in the J. David Rosenberg College of Law building.
The address, delivered by Michael Abate on Thursday, Sept. 26 was followed by the presentation of the James Madison Award to Scott Horn, the 2024 recipient.
This award, created in 2006, is given to individuals with “significant” ties to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and whose work has aided in the preservation of freedom of the press or freedom of speech, according to the School of Journalism and Media website.
Michael Abate, a professional litigator, delivered the address in the Grand Courtroom at the Rosenberg College of Law. This address stressed the importance of the First Amendment in court decisions and the freedom of the press.
Abate completed his bachelor’s degree at Harvard University and his juris doctor at Stanford Law School.
“The First Amendment is the cornerstone of the marketplace of ideas… and the backbone of free press,” Abate said.
During the event, Abate covered multiple pro-speech court decisions including Snyder v. Phelps (2011), a case that ruled that “states cannot use tort law to punish Westboro Baptist Church members protecting military funerals with anti-LGBT messages,” according to Abate. As well as McCullen v. Coakley (2014), a decision that “struck down the Massachusetts abortion-clinic buffer zone as being insufficiently tailored,” Abate said.
According to Abate, it is important that the court systems understand the First Amendment to further understand the right of free speech and the press.
“It’s the duty of courts to understand what the law is,” Abate said.
Professor and Associate Dean of Student Success in the School of Journalism and Media, Deborah Chung also attended the event.
“I want to support our colleagues…and this (the address) is a place where you could learn about some very powerful information about the First Amendment,” Chung said.
Jennifer Smith, assistant professor and journalism sequence coordinator, attended the event to hear Abate speak and to recognize the work of Horn.
“Sometimes journalism is a kind of a lonely profession like you’re in the field doing work that maybe no one’s paying attention to…as a journalist I want to stand up and applaud him (Horn) as it’s nice to know there are other people in the trenches with you,” Smith said.
Similarly to professors, journalism students attended the event as well.
Junior print journalism student Jemi Chew attended the event as a part of an independent study for one of her professors.
“I feel like this award is very important just because it really celebrates Kentucky…” Chew said. “the people in Kentucky who are working to expand the First Amendment and like trying to help the public.”
