A First Amendment Analysis of Hate.docVIP

A First Amendment Analysis of Hate-Crime Laws Revisiting Wisconsin v. Mitchell and recommending change Nathan R. Sellers Gustavus Adolphus College Introduction In 1993, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld a Wisconsin state statute that enhanced the penalty for the conviction of a crime that was committed “because of” the “race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry” of the victim (Wisconsin v. Mitchell, n1). The Court’s opinion in Wisconsin v. Mitchell was initially hailed by the media, politicians, and le