The Modern History of Originalism

In this episode, a panel of libertarian and conservative scholars—J. Joel Alicea of the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Anastasia Boden of the Cato Institute, and Sherif Girgis of Notre Dame Law School—explore the different strands of originalism as a constitutional methodology. They also explore the Roberts Court’s application of originalism in recent cases, and how originalism intersects with textualism and other interpretive approaches. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program was originally streamed live on June 28, 2023. 

Additional Resources 

Moore v. Harper (2023) 

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen (2023) 

Grutter v. Bollinger (2002) 

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) 

Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) 

Counterman v. Colorado (2023)  

J. Joel Alicea, “The Moral Authority of Original Meaning,” Notre Dame Law Review (2022)  

Joel Alicea, “Originalism and the Rule of the Dead,” National Affairs (2022) 

Sherif Girgis,  “Living Traditionalism,” N.Y.U. L.Rev (2023) 

Sherif Gergis, “Dobb's History and the future of Abortion Laws,” SCOTUSblog (2022) 

Anastasia Boden, “Supreme Court's Sidestep Leaves Native Kids Without Answers,” Volokh Conspiracy (June 2023) 

Anastasia Boden, “Discourse: Irrational Basis,” Pacific Legal Foundation, (August 2022) 

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