What are the contours and principles of the First Amendment's free speech and freedom of the press protections (a/k/a Academic Freedom) in the academic setting?

1. Whether a fair trial occurs when a U.S. U.S. District court judge in a civil case:
a. Accepts an award, prior to trial, from a local professional organization of which a defendant party's trial attorney is a member but of which the pro se plaintiff is not;
and
b. Denies a plaintiff's motion to disqualify the magistrate when:

(1) the magistrate himself sua Sponte advises defendant to invoke the qualified immunity defense in a civil rights case,
(2) but when the defendant fails to do that the magistrate himself invokes the defense in his report and recommendation to the District Judge, (3) and then the magistrate recommends in that same report and recommendation document dismissal of the case on the bases of the qualified immunity defense raised by the magistrate.

What are the contours and principles of the First Amendment's free speech and freedom of the press protections (a/k/a Academic Freedom) in the academic setting?