	Introduction

Justice Stevens has authored a number of important majority opinions and dissents expounding upon the limits of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. This report discusses Justice Stevens's opinions in these areas. This case has come to be known as the "Seven Dirty Words" case or the "Filthy Words" case. Many viewed this decision as increasing the constitutional protection for truthful and nonmisleading commercial speech. The majority found that the statute violated BSA's First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association.
Justice Stevens has authored a number of significant opinions expounding upon the constitutional right to freedom of speech. Among them are significant cases related to indecency and the rights of broadcasters ("Seven Dirty Words Case"), commercial speech, symbolic speech, and the freedom of association. This report will describe these cases with a view to their impact on free speech case law, and their continuing relevance in the future. This report will not discuss Justice Stevens's election law-related opinions.