Upcoming Programs at America’s Town Hall

Solicitors General and the Supreme Court

Tuesday, April 18 | Program: 4:30 p.m. ET; Reception: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The U.S. Supreme Court decides some of the most challenging and important constitutional and statutory issues facing America through its interpretive methodologies. Join a discussion exploring the various approaches to constitutional interpretation and key doctrines—including originalism, textualism, and the major questions doctrine—through the lens of recent Supreme Court cases with Solicitors General Ben Flowers of Ohio and Caroline Van Zile of Washington, D.C. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. A reception will take place directly following the discussion from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

This program is presented in partnership with the National Association of Attorneys General Center for Excellence in Governance.

Women and the American Idea

Tuesday, April 25 | 12 p.m. ET

Join Tomiko Brown-Nagin, author of Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality, and Elizabeth Cobbs, author of Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé for a conversation exploring key influential women throughout history and how these women inspired constitutional change. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the McNulty Foundation in partnership with the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership at Villanova University.

The Future of Affirmative Action

Thursday, May 4 | 7 p.m. ET

The Supreme Court is about to decide two cases involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina that could end affirmative action in higher education. Join scholars William Allen of Michigan State University and Hasan Kwame Jeffries of The Ohio State University for a discussion of the future of affirmative action. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

The Shadow Docket Debate

Monday, May 22 | 12 p.m. ET

The Supreme Court’s “shadow docket”—cases in which the Court issues emergency orders and summary decisions without oral argument—has been subject to growing scrutiny. Legal experts, including Jennifer Mascott of the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, join Stephen Vladeck of The University of Texas School of Law, for a conversation on Vladeck’s new book, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic, exploring the history and role of the shadow docket and the current debates surrounding the Court’s emergency rulings. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

The State of Free Expression in the U.S. and Abroad

Monday, June 5 | 6:30 p.m. ET

Join free-speech advocates Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion, political activist, and chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative; Evan Mawarire, Zimbabwean pastor and democratic activist; and others, as they discuss the state of free expression in the United States, Russia, Zimbabwe and around the world. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is presented in partnership with the Renew Democracy Initiative and the Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

Deliberation and Democratic Norms in America

Tuesday, June 13 | 12 p.m. ET

In today’s polarized political climate, how can Americans foster constructive conversations and compromise across the political spectrum to address the nation’s most pressing issues? Ronnie Janoff-Bulman, psychologist and author of The Two Moralities: Conservatives, Liberals, and the Roots of Our Political Divide; Matthew Levendusky, political scientist and author of Our Common Bonds: Using What Americans Share to Help Bridge the Partisan Divide; and Kenji Yoshino, legal scholar and author of Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice, join for a conversation exploring the roots of America’s political divide, various strategies for overcoming partisan gridlock, and how and why to engage in difficult discussions to secure the future of democracy. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Clarence Thomas and the Constitutional Stories that Define Him

Monday, June 19 | 12 p.m. ET

Join Judge Amul Thapar and former Judge Bernice Donald, both of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, for a conversation on Thapar’s new book, The People’s Justice: Clarence Thomas and the Constitutional Stories that Define Him. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

The Modern History of Originalism

Wednesday, June 28 | 12 p.m. ET

Join 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—for an in-depth comparative look at the different strands of originalism as a constitutional methodology. They will also explore originalism’s modern history and application by current members of the Roberts Court through the examples of recent cases, and how originalism intersects with textualism and other interpretive approaches. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Montesquieu and the Constitution

Thursday, July 6 | 7 p.m. ET

Described in The Federalist as “the celebrated Montesquieu,” Charles de Montesquieu was cited more often than any other author from 1760-1800. In what ways did his writings and ideas help shape the U.S. Constitution and the structure of American government? Join Diana Schaub of the American Enterprise Institute, Thomas Pangel of the University of Texas at Austin, and Dennis Rasmussen of Syracuse University, for a discussion on the political thought of Montesquieu and his influence on American democracy. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

2023 Annual Supreme Court Review

Thursday, July 13 | 12-1:30 p.m. ET

The National Constitution Center and the Anti-Defamation League present an America’s Town Hall featuring legal experts Erwin Chemerinsky, Miguel Estrada, Gregory G. Garre, Frederick M. Lawrence, and Dahlia Lithwick to discuss the most significant decisions of the term, including cases on affirmative action, religious accommodation, social media regulation, voting rights, and more. Journalist Amy Howe moderates.

This program is presented in partnership with ADL. ADL is seeking accreditation for 1.5 CLE credits for this program at no cost to attendees. CLE information is forthcoming.