Michael W. McConnell
Richard and Frances Mallery Professor of Law and Director of the Constitutional Law Center
Michael W. McConnell is the Richard and Frances Mallery Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, Director of the Constitutional Law Center, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 2002 to 2009. He is one of the leading authorities on freedom of religion and speech, originalism, and constitutional history. His scholarship has been widely cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts across the country.
Teaching Style
Professor McConnell brings the perspective of a former federal appellate judge and constitutional originalist to his teaching. He uses a rigorous Socratic method, cold-calling students and pushing them to engage with constitutional text and history at a granular level. His classes foster spirited debate across ideological lines, and he is known for treating all viewpoints with intellectual respect while pressing students to sharpen their arguments.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Be prepared to engage with originalist arguments and historical sources about the Constitution's meaning
- 2Know the major Religion Clause cases and the evolving standards for free exercise and establishment
- 3Understand the structural constitutional arguments about separation of powers and federalism
- 4Be ready to discuss current controversies in First Amendment law from multiple perspectives
Areas of Expertise
Education
- B.A., Michigan State University
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School
Notable Publications
- The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power and the Constitution
Research Interests
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Constitutional Law, Constitutional Litigation, Voting Rights, Civil Rights
Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Antitrust, Law and Technology
Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Sentencing, Law and Literature
Family Law, Employment Discrimination, Race and the Law
Constitutional Law, Election Law, Law of Democracy, Technology and Governance
Constitutional Law, Legislation and Statutory Interpretation, Sexuality and the Law