Prof. of History and Law, Stanford University. Books on early Constitution: https://teapawt.net/t.co/K5lWZzPolN; and originalism and history: https://teapawt.net/t.co/o978AhM2cj.
Palo Alto, CA
Joined May 2009
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Publication day is here. Thrilled to announce that my new book, *Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique*, is now available!
amazon.com/Against-Constitut…
The William and Mary Quarterly Forum on the recently discovered John Dickinson documents, revealing his previously unknown secret attempt to prevent the American Revolution, is now available!
The WMQ has made the issue open access for the next month.
muse.jhu.edu/issue/57168
An essay by me and Jane Calvert on the John Dickinson documents discovery that reveal his previously unknown secret attempt to prevent the American Revolution.
It previews the scholarly forum on the documents that will be published soon.
lawliberty.org/the-secret-ef…
More on the discovery here:
One of the most incredible things I have ever worked on:
Recently discovered documents, written by John Dickinson in 1775, that reveal his secret and previously unknown efforts to prevent the American Revolution.
Now featured in the New York Times.
nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/25…
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Not every day that something you worked on gets on the front page of the print edition of the NYT.
One of the most incredible things I have ever worked on:
Recently discovered documents, written by John Dickinson in 1775, that reveal his secret and previously unknown efforts to prevent the American Revolution.
Now featured in the New York Times.
nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/25…
Happy 250th!
For an interesting wrinkle to the whole thing, check out the exciting historical discovery below. 👇🏻
One of the most incredible things I have ever worked on:
Recently discovered documents, written by John Dickinson in 1775, that reveal his secret and previously unknown efforts to prevent the American Revolution.
Now featured in the New York Times.
nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/25…
Before the U.S. Constitution there was the Articles of Confederation, the drafting of which began in June of 1776 before independence was even declared.
Listen to me and Jane Calvert discuss the Articles on @BFWorldPodcast.
Link below.
One of the most incredible things I have ever worked on:
Recently discovered documents, written by John Dickinson in 1775, that reveal his secret and previously unknown efforts to prevent the American Revolution.
Now featured in the New York Times.
nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/25…
The documents, and a set of interpretive essays, will soon be published in a forum in the William and Mary Quarterly coinciding with the 250th of U.S. independence.
Until then, the WMQ have made the transcripts of the documents available for viewing.
oireader.wm.edu/open_wmq/the…
New symposium on my book is out in the Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities!
It features essays by an extraordinary group of scholars from across Law and History followed by my response.
Link below.
It was a tremendous pleasure to be part of this conversation with my colleagues, @OrinKerr and Jud Campbell, on the use of originalism in federal courts. Thanks to Short Circuit for staging such a terrific event.
Our Latest Podcast: Originalism at Stanford
With @TheGNapp @OrinKerr & Jud Campbell!
ij.org/podcasts/short-circui…
I was delighted to help bring this terrific exchange between @JRakove and @WilliamBaude together for our journal. With so much discussion of late focused on liquidation, I think it will be of great benefit to all involved in the conversation across multiple disciplines.
Full article is here: jach.law.wisc.edu/liquidatio…
I’m responding to this article by Jack Rakove: jach.law.wisc.edu/madisonian…
The papers grow out of an exchange that Jack and I had several years ago @StanfordConLaw. Thanks to them, the journal, to @TheGNapp and of course to Jack.
New Symposium on my book is out in *American Political Thought*.
Featuring critical essays by James Stoner, Michael McConnell, Calvin TerBeek, and George Thomas.
Followed by my response.
Find the full symposium here: journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ap…
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This is surreal. Honored to receive this recognition.
We're excited to announce the exceptional 15 titles chosen for the 2025 #CundillHistoryPrize longlist! ✨
Read the full list here: cundillprize.com/news/the-20…
Over the next month we will be spotlighting each title on social media. The shortlist will be announced in early September.
I read this article in draft form and highly recommend it.
In the @BULawReview, a symposium on my new book, *Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique*, and Jack Balkin's new book, *Memory and Authority: The Uses of History in Constitutional Interpretation*, featuring a great lineup.
bu.edu/bulawreview/2024/11/0…
My own contribution connects Balkin's book to my own, reading them as two sides of the same coin, to consider how the nature of historical difference shapes recovery of past legal thinking in the U.S. constitutional tradition.
bu.edu/bulawreview/files/202…
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A thoughtful review of my new book at the American Reformer.
It’s a book review kind of week! Here’s Stephen Sills on @TheGNapp’s new critique of originalism
americanreformer.org/2024/11…
Extremely flattered that @agordonreed included my new book on this reading list that she compiled for The New Yorker.
newyorker.com/books/book-cur…
For those who missed it, there was recently a stimulating symposium on Alison's LaCroix's rich and rewarding book, *The Interbellum Constitution: Union, Commerce, and Slavery in the Age of Federalisms*, at Balkinization.
Here are all the contributions: balkin.blogspot.com/2024/08/…
One writes in hopes of one day receiving this kind of review. I remain so appreciative of how thoughtfully and deeply @CassSunstein read my book.
My review of a brilliant, staggering new book by @TheGNapp, a challenge to originalism in constitutional law, and an eye-opener to nonoriginalists as well; it might have been called, The Past Is A Foreign Country.
washingtonpost.com/books/202…
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Was a great pleasure to take part in this conversation on originalism with @StephenESachs at the @ConstitutionCtr.
Check out the footage here!
youtube.com/watch?v=5flX8msg…
What is originalism’s role in constitutional interpretation today? @TheGNapp and @StephenESachs discuss the history of originalism–and what it means today on #AmericasTownHall.
Register to attend Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. ET: ow.ly/5V0R50TzwWn
Now, I was not expecting this. Amazing. Thank you! 🙏🏻
This new book Against Constitutional Originalism by @TheGNapp
“could change the way conservatives read the Constitution” and “could fundamentally reorient how we understand America’s founding.”
writes Harvard Prof @CassSunstein
I can’t wait to read it!
washingtonpost.com/books/202…
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