I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome to

We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.

The National Constitution Center is the only institution in America,

chartered by Congress, to disseminate information

about the US Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.

On December 5th, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments

in masterpiece cake versus Colorado Civil Rights Commission,

a case examining how to balance free speech against claims of discrimination.

The question is whether the government can compel a bakery owner to act in ways such as baking a wedding cake for a gay couple

that he claims violate his First Amendment rights of free speech and

pre-exercise of religion. Joining us to discuss these crucial constitutional questions

are two of America's leading thinkers

on civil rights law and the Constitution.

The Nita Govta as the president and CEO

of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights,

the Leadership Conference joined an amicus brief in this case with other civil rights groups. And Michael Morland is University Professor of Law and Religion and Director of the Eleanor

H McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy at Villanova Law School.

He joined Anamicus brief, along with 34 other legal scholars supporting the cake shop owner.

Michael Vanita, thank you so much for joining.

Thank you, Jeff.

Glad to be here.

Let's jump right into the facts of the case and the facts may be relevant to the constitutional

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