Name: The Brennan Center Jorde Symposium: "Against Constitutional Theory."
Start: 2026-02-05T16:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-05T17:50:00-05:00
Location: NYU School of Law, Greenberg Lounge

The Brennan Center Jorde Symposium: "Against Constitutional Theory."

Constitutional Law and the Courts featuring Erwin Chemerinsky, UC Berkeley School of Law, who will speak “Against Constitutional Theory.”
About this Event

NYU School of Law, Greenberg Lounge

Program: 4PM to 5:50PM

Reception will follow: 5:50PM to 6:30PM

Please join the NYU Law community for the Brennan Center’s Jorde Symposium featuring Lecturer, Erwin Chermerinsky, Dean, UC Berkeley School of Law, who will speak “Against Constitutional Theory.”

SPEAKERS:

Lecturer: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, Berkeley School of Law

Commentators:

Leah Litman, Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School

Sharif Girgis, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School

For the last half century, many constitutional law professors and judges have engaged in a futile quest to develop a theory of constitutional law that constrains courts and that reconciles judicial review with democracy. No theory can succeed in these goals. The quest is destructive because it creates a false impression of constitutional decision-making and, in doing so asks the wrong questions while obscuring the right ones.

Sherif Girgis and Leah Litman will offer commentary.

This Brennan Center for Justice event is open to the public but guests must RSVP.