Figure 3-9. Justices’ support for free speech by the party of the appointing president, chief justice era, and the ideological content of the expression, 1953-2017 terms

Court EraLeft-Leaning SpeechRight-Leaning Speech
Democratic AppointeesRepublican AppointeesDemocratic AppointeesRepublican Appointees
Warren Court71737776
Burger Court63496962
Rehnquist Court49485861
Roberts Court42244768

Source: Lee Epstein, Andrew Martin, and Kevin Quinn, 6+ Decades of Freedom of Expression in the U.S. Supreme Court (Report prepared for the New York Times, June 30, 2018). See also Adam Liptak, “How Conservatives Weaponized the First Amendment,” New York Times (June 30, 2018).

Note: Warren Court: 1953-1968 terms; Burger Court: 1969-1985 terms; Rehnquist Court: 1986-2004 terms; Roberts Court: 2005-2017 terms.