Randy E. Barnett
Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law
Randy E. Barnett is the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University Law Center and Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. A recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in Constitutional Studies and the Bradley Prize, he has authored thirteen books and over 150 articles. He argued the medical marijuana case Gonzales v. Raich before the Supreme Court and was a lead attorney challenging the Affordable Care Act in NFIB v. Sebelius. Before entering academia, he tried felony cases as a prosecutor in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago.
Teaching Style
Professor Barnett is known for his energetic Socratic method, engaging students in spirited debate about constitutional meaning and original intent. He cold-calls frequently and expects students to defend their positions rigorously, often playing devil's advocate regardless of the student's viewpoint. His classes are intellectually demanding, requiring students to grapple with foundational questions about constitutional legitimacy and the proper scope of government power.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Be prepared to discuss the original public meaning of constitutional provisions and defend your interpretive methodology
- 2Read the assigned cases and his scholarship on originalism to understand his analytical framework
- 3Practice constructing and defending arguments about federalism and individual rights
- 4Know the key Commerce Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause cases cold, as he frequently tests these areas
Areas of Expertise
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School
- B.A., Northwestern University
Notable Publications
- Restoring the Lost Constitution: The Presumption of Liberty
- The Structure of Liberty: Justice and the Rule of Law
- An Introduction to Constitutional Law: 100 Supreme Court Cases Everyone Should Know (casebook, with Josh Blackman)
Research Interests
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