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State Constitutional Commentary

14th ANNUAL CHIEF JUDGE LAWRENCE H. COOKE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY SYMPOSIUM: THE EMINENCE AND EXPERIENCE—AND EXHAUSTION—OF BEING NEW YORK’S CHIEF JUDGE
January 04, 2025 EDT
14th ANNUAL CHIEF JUDGE LAWRENCE H. COOKE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY SYMPOSIUM: THE EMINENCE AND EXPERIENCE—AND EXHAUSTION—OF BEING NEW YORK’S CHIEF JUDGE
Hon. Rowan WilsonHon. Jonathan LippmanVincent BonventreKanika Johar

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson and former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman engage in a panel discussion on what it means to oversee New York State's Court of Appeals and court system.

AN EXPLORATION OF JUDICIAL SELECTION METHODS OF STATE HIGH COURTS
December 24, 2024 EDT
AN EXPLORATION OF JUDICIAL SELECTION METHODS OF STATE HIGH COURTS
Hon. Leslie E. SteinJohn KowalChad OldfatherNoah RosenblumDavid Sachar

This Panel examined historical and current judicial selection methods of state supreme courts around the nation, noting the importance state high courts play in upholding democratic ideals.

RECONCILING BRENNANIAN AND BRANDEISIAN LABORATORIES
December 24, 2024 EDT
RECONCILING BRENNANIAN AND BRANDEISIAN LABORATORIES
Gerald S. Dickinson

This Essay explores state courts as rights expositors/ protectors and democratic agents/representatives and seeks to reconcile the tension, concluding they are in fact harmonious manifestations of Brennanian and Brandeisian ideals.

PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING CASES IN STATE SUPREME COURTS IN THE 2020S REDISTRICTING ROUND
December 24, 2024 EDT
PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING CASES IN STATE SUPREME COURTS IN THE 2020S REDISTRICTING ROUND
Jonathan CervasBernard GrofmanScott MatsudaJustine Kawa

This Essay examines redistricting lawsuits before state high courts, focusing on partisan gerrymandering cases, an area that has fallen to state courts to police since the 2019 Rucho SCOTUS decision.

December 14, 2024 EDT
THE 1821 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND THE CONSTITUTIONALIZING OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN NEW YORK
Peter J. Galie

This Article examines the 1821 New York Constitution, the first to bring race into its fabric, and Martin Van Buren's role in the state's colonial background and constitutional tradition.

November 10, 2024 EDT
(S)ELECTION OF GEORGIA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES: DEMOCRACY—OR DYNASTY?
Jeffrey A. Van Detta

This Article traces the history of the Georgia Supreme Court and election of its justices, arguing that the current system produces a dynasty of jurists who are selected, not elected.

IDEOLOGICAL COMPETITION OVER STATE SUPREME COURT SELECTION METHODS
June 13, 2024 EDT
IDEOLOGICAL COMPETITION OVER STATE SUPREME COURT SELECTION METHODS
Stephen J. Ware

This Article shows that ideological competition over selection methods continues in several states, which ostensibly provide supreme court elections, but in practice nearly always appoint their justices.

GOVERNORS’ EMERGENCY POWERS IN LIGHT OF COVID-19
January 11, 2024 EDT
GOVERNORS’ EMERGENCY POWERS IN LIGHT OF COVID-19
Robert F. WilliamsMax Sevor

This article examines the nature of increased emergency powers granted to governors during the COVID-19 pandemic in a state-by-state analysis.

STATE CONSTITUTIONS AND PRIVILEGES OR IMMUNITIES
August 28, 2023 EDT
STATE CONSTITUTIONS AND PRIVILEGES OR IMMUNITIES
John L. Rockenbach

This article makes an originalist case for incorporating state constitutional rights into the federal constitution, relying on the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEED NOT APPLY: WHY THE STATE SEPARATION OF POWERS DOCTRINE BARS LEGISLATIVE DUAL SERVICE
June 19, 2023 EDT
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEED NOT APPLY: WHY THE STATE SEPARATION OF POWERS DOCTRINE BARS LEGISLATIVE DUAL SERVICE
Robert FellnerColleen McCarty

This Article concludes that for the many state constitutions with separation of powers clauses the best construction is one that prohibits all forms of legislative dual service.

January 12, 2023 EDT
“FREE AND EQUAL”: JAMES WILSON’S ELECTIONS CLAUSE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR FIGHTING PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING IN STATE COURTS
Brett Graham

This Article aims to dive into the "free and equal" elections clause, with particular focus on its authorship and potential uses in the future over the battle of partisan gerrymandering.

December 15, 2022 EDT
SUPREME STATE COURTS: PROTECTING RIGHTS & LIBERTIES DESPITE THE SUPREME COURT
Vincent M. BonventreTori L. DeyoMatthew T. Skinner

This Article explores the constitutional foundation and tradition of judicial federalism: the ability of state high courts to reject the Supreme Court’s treatment of civil rights and liberties.