State Constitutions:

Guardians of Rights and Laboratories of Democracy

Our Fall 2024 symposium will be held on Friday, December 6, from 4-6pm in LAW 7. The theme for this semester’s symposium is “State Constitutions: Guardians of Rights and Laboratories of Democracy.” We are only accepting submissions that focus on this theme. Below is the full description of our symposium topic:

For decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has been seen as the ultimate guardian of rights—from same-sex marriage, to the right to bear arms. But what the Court gives, it can also take away. Recent Supreme Court decisions highlight just how fragile certain constitutional rights can be. The rollback of rights at the federal level—which can cut across ideological lines—underscores the critical importance of the fifty other constitutions we have: state constitutions. While less studied, litigated, and widely known, state constitutions are no less crucial in protecting individual liberties. We invite scholars to dive into this dynamic and developing area of law, ripe with opportunities for exploration.

The deadline to submit your writing for the symposium is Monday, 11/25 at 11:59 pm. We can accept drafts for the 11/25 deadline. But if your piece is selected for our symposium, you’ll need to be ready to present your substantive arguments on Friday, 12/5, and send in the final version of your article by Friday, 12/12 at 11:59 pm. Please note that acceptance for the symposium does not guarantee publication.