Originalism: An Overview of Theory and Practice

2 credits · Law School

Originalism has become a major force in constitutional interpretation throughout the federal and state judiciaries. The theory's merits and the merits of the outcome it yields are the subject of intense debate in the legal community and across the country. This two-hour weekly seminar is designed to help acquaint students with the history of Originalism, developments in Originalism over time, criticisms of the theory, current controversies among originalists, and how lawyers and judges engage in originalist analysis.