Originalism and the Constitution

Originalism and the Constitution,
September 22, 2022

Does the Constitution establish the right to have an AR-15? What about rights to birth control and abortion? In the modern era, is the death penalty “cruel and unusual” punishment even though the Constitution recognizes it multiple times? How, in a dynamic world, should one interpret the Constitution to answer those questions? Many views exist, among them those dubbed “originalism,” “textualism,” and “The Living Constitution.” Even views among the Supreme Court Justices vary, both contemporaneously and over time.

Featured: Patricia Lee, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Public Education; John O. McGinnis, Northwestern University Law School;  David Strauss, University of Chicago Law School; Alisa Kaplan, Reform for Illinois

Written materials>>
Audio transcript>>

CLE Credits

Continuing legal education (CLE) credits are available to Illinois lawyers for 30 days from program date. Information is contained in the program registration, or on-demand description. All CLE credits are managed by Reform for Illinois.

Parliamentary-Style Debate

Each program follows the same format, as follows:

Program Format (60 minutes)

• Welcome Remarks (2 minutes)
• Moderator presents resolution (topic)
• Pro (yes) argument opening statement (12 minutes)
• Con (no) argument opening statement (12 minutes)
• Pro argument rebuttal (2 minutes)
• Con argument rebuttal (2 minutes)
• Moderated discussion (20 minutes)
• Audience Q&A (10 minutes)