Chief Justice as First Amendment Defender?

When we think of First Amendment controversies, we generally point our attention to the judicial branch, specifically the Supreme Court (SCOTUS). The Supreme Court's decisions regarding the First Amendment set major precedents to how we view relationships between the government and citizens (specifically journalists and media outlets). Last week, Tony Mauro reported in the National Law Journal that Chief Justice Roberts announced himself as the "most aggressive defender" of the First Amendment.

Bold statements such as this one causes us to reflect on how the First Amendment may differ significantly in interpretation among individuals, even Supreme Court Justices. What does Chief Justice Roberts mean by calling himself the "most aggressive defender," and I wonder if he is focusing on his attention towards freedoms of speech and press over other important aspects of the First Amendment. As the article notes, perhaps this idea could be a step in the right direction towards bipartisan collaboration and less hostility between both ends of the political spectrum. On the other hand, our interpretations of this amendment may divide SCOTUS, politicians, and citizens as a whole, even further.

That's all for now!