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Originalism Summer Seminar

Originalism Summer Seminar

Through lectures by the nation’s preeminent originalist scholars and litigators, luncheon discussions, and visits to the United States Supreme Court, the Originalism Summer Seminar--a “Boot Camp” on the Theory and Practice of Originalism--exposes elite law students and recent graduates to state-of-the-art originalism and alternative approaches to constitutional interpretation.

Originalism Summer Seminar

This May, the Georgetown Center for the Constitution will offer a week-long “Boot Camp” on originalism in theory and practice, open to students and recent graduates (within 5 years) from all law schools. The 2023 Seminar will run from Sunday, May 21 to Friday, May 26, 2023. 

The week begins with an opening reception on the evening of Sunday, May 21. Our first academic session starts on Monday morning at 9:00 am, followed by a daily luncheon and afternoon meetings. The seminar concludes with a farewell reception in the afternoon of Friday, May 26. Students who successfully complete the Originalism Summer Seminar will receive a $1,000 honorarium.

Applications for the 2023 Summer Seminar are Closed.

Thank you for your interest in the 2023 Originalism Summer Seminar. Acceptances will be released before April 1, 2023.

Requirements

  • Current law students who will have completed their first year of law school by the start of the program or recent graduates (within 5 years); PhD candidates are also eligible
  • Interest in a judicial clerkship is not required, but is preferred

Honorarium

Up to forty accepted applicants will receive a $1,000 honorarium for their participation in the Summer Seminar. Participants must attend all sessions to receive the honorarium.

Learn About the Seminar

2023 Summer Seminar Highlights

  • Meeting with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch
  • Meeting with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Clarence Thomas
  • Originalism Summer Seminar Alumni Clerk Panel
  • Originalism Applied: Research Project  with Professor Mark Moller
  • Lecture on Corpus Linguistics with former Utah Supreme Court Justice Thomas Lee
  • Debate on the Original Meaning of the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the 14th Amendment with Professor Ilan Wurman and Professor Evan Bernick

Summer Seminar Lecture Topics

  • Overview of Originalism (Professor Lawrence Solum)
  • Normative Rationales For Originalism (Professor Randy Barnett)
  • Progressive Criticisms of Originalism (Professor Tom Colby)
  • Responses to Progressive Criticisms of Originalism (Solum and Barnett)
  • The Natural Law Case for Originalism (Professor Joel Alicea)
  • The Positivist Case for Originalism (Professor Steve Sachs)
  • Public Meaning Originalism (Solum)
  • Original Methods Originalism (Professor Mike Rappaport)
  • Living Originalism (Professor Jack Balkin)
  • Diverse Originalism (Professor Christina Mulligan)
  • Natural Rights and the Original Meaning of the Ninth Amendment (Professor Randy Barnett)
  • Stare Decisis (Solum and Barnett)
  • Originalism and Stare Decisis in the Lower Courts (Professor Josh Blackman)
  • How to do Originalist Research (Professor Jud Campbell)
  • Original Meaning and the Establishment Clause: A Corpus Linguistic Analysis (Professor Stephanie Barclay)
  • Original Meaning of “Cruel and Unusual Punishment” (Professor John Stinneford)
  • Original Meaning of ‘Officers of the United States’ (Professor Jen Mascott)
  • The Necessary & Proper Clause, the Preamble and Enumerationism (Professor John Mikhail)
Testimonials from Our Particiapnts
Testimonials

"This is hands-down the best seminar/conference I have attended."

"I never had the chance to learn any of this in law school."

"This was one of the most impactful weeks of my professional life."

"This seminar made me think about the law more than some of the semester-long law school classes did."

"The originalism boot camp is the premiere forum to educate the next generation of constitutionalist lawyers."

"If I am presented with an originalism question during my clerkship, I have a good understanding of how to approach the question and begin the applied research."

"Considering how widely accepted textualism and, to a lesser extent, originalism has become in recent years, I think every participant has a leg-up on other law students/clerks/practicing lawyers."