June 10, 2011 1:23PM 

# Defending Anonymous Speech 

By [John Samples](https://www.cato.org/people/john-samples) 

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For some time now, the U.S. Supreme Court has placed little weight on the value of anonymous speech, especially in the campaign finance context. True, in *McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission* (1995), the Court struck down a state law prohibiting distributing anonymous campaign literature. But from *Buckley v. Valeo* (1976) onward, the Court has looked favorably on disclosure of campaign spending. Even *Citizens United* saw only one justice, Clarence Thomas, speak out in favor of anonymous speech.

Long-time First Amendment advocate Nat Hentoff raises some questions about limiting anonymous speech in this [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjzmL-Kwk4o&feature=channel_video_title). He praises Justice Thomas and recalls the importance of anonymous speech during the founding era.

##### Related Tags 

[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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