As the Supreme Court digs into a momentous term, the justices have signaled an unusual interest in the First Amendment by agreeing to hear seven different cases exploring the contours of free speech. One reason for the sheer number of cases may have less to do with the individual issues and more to do with the interests and jurisprudence of Justice Kennedy, who plays a critical role on the court and often casts the deciding vote or crafts the final language of a key opinion, said Frederick Schauer, an expert at the UVA School of Law.