Location: The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium

The Center for Legal and Judicial Studies is honored to host Professor John C. Harrison as the second speaker of our aptly named Joseph Story Distinguished Lecture Series.  The namesake of the series – the eminent jurist Joseph Story – became the youngest Associate Justice ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court when he was appointed by President Madison in 1812.  Story made a significant mark on American law in his thirty-three years on the bench, but his greatest contribution to jurisprudence is his renowned Commentaries on the Constitution, in which he set forth a philosophy of judicial restraint.  Story famously declared: “A constitution of government is addressed to the common sense of the people and never was designed for trials of logical skill or visionary speculation.”  Professor Harrison, who has written prolifically on originalist interpretation, will offer his insights into the pertinent constitutional debates of Justice Story’s day.

Professor Harrison has been a professor of law at the University of Virginia since 1993.  During 2008, he was on leave from the Law School to serve as counselor on international law in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State.  Prior to joining the UVA faculty, he worked with the Department of Justice from 1983-93, serving in numerous capacities, including deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel (1990-93).  He has also been an associate at Patton Boggs & Blow in Washington, D.C. and a law clerk for The Honorable Robert Bork on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  Harrison earned his law degree in 1980 at Yale where he served as editor of the Yale Law Journal and editor and articles editor of the Yale Studies in World Public Order.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1977.