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David Adler Columns

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Wyoming Humanities announces the 2023 selections for National Book Festival

The books will represent the state at the national event this August

David Adler Columns

Is posting Ten Commandments in schools constitutional?

Several states are likely to pass such bills in the near term

David Adler Columns

Presidential power, the 14th Amendment and the public debt

Simply put, the clause declares to the world that America pays its bills

From Our Executive Director

Blog: Drouths and Rising Cricks

Everyday Humanities

David Adler Columns

In defense of clergy, Supreme Court strikes blow for religious liberty

Though unanimous, the justices had different rationales for striking down the law

David Adler Columns

Church & State: The court prohibits religious tests for office

The prohibition on religious tests was a reaction to English practice

Wyoming Humanities announces winners of the 2023 Letters About Literature contest

Entries from these students came from across the entire state

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court’s first big decision on state powers

"Fault Lines in the Constitution" coming to Wyoming

David Adler Columns

Justice Chase’s impeachment and judicial independence

The decision raises profoundly important questions about judicial independence

David Adler Columns

Applying impeachment clause to Supreme Court justices

Are justices and federal judges subject to impeachment?

David Adler Columns

Trump's case: When novel theories become legal principles

How do new legal theories become established legal principles?

David Adler Columns

University of Wyoming transgender lawsuit: Who is a woman?

The issues in the suit are likely to be replicated across the nation

Wyoming Humanities awards thousands more in grants and sponsorships

From Our Executive Director

Blog: The Humanities and AI

Everyday Humanities

David Adler Columns

Vulnerable to indictment, Trump’s cases subject to the law

David Adler Columns

Court declares a right to contraceptives for unmarried individuals

The individual right to privacy carved a path for subsequent assertions

Wyoming Humanities welcomes five new board members

The group represents areas across the state

David Adler Columns

Court finally ends race discrimination in public accommodations

1964 was a pivotal year in the civil rights movement

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court in Nebbia: 'An Ominous Fork in the Road'

The decision saved the American dairy industry

David Adler Columns

The Supreme Court delivers landmark victory for farmers

Farmers organized politically to counter the power of the railroads.

February 25, 2023

David Adler Columns

Pence seeks refuge in the Speech or Debate Clause

The clause enabled congressional representatives to fulfill their public duties

February 18, 2023

David Adler Columns

State of the Union Address: The Constitution & Politics

For the nation’s chief executive, there is no greater stage

February 11, 2023

David Adler Columns

The First Amendment and free speech on campus

Freedom of speech is a powerful tool, exercised to expose impoverished opinions

February 4, 2023

David Adler Columns

The Constitution and government classification of secrets

The Constitution is silent on the repository of authority to classify documents

January 28, 2023

David Adler Columns

Tinker v. Des Moines: Anchoring students’ free speech rights

It's the authoritative ruling on symbolic speech rights for students

January 21, 2023

David Adler Columns

Buck v. Bell: The Supreme Court upholds forced sterilization

The opinion has still not been overruled

January 14, 2023

Celebrating the Success of 2022

Thanks to you, we accomplished so much

January 10, 2023

David Adler Columns

Powell v. McCormack: Confining Congress to the Constitution

Does Congress have the authority to refuse to seat a duly elected candidate

January 7, 2023

More organizations receive Crossroads grants from Wyoming Humanities

The impact of these grants will be seen statewide

January 4, 2023

David Adler Columns

At Year’s End: A Duty to Protect our Constitutional Democracy

The citizenry bears a special responsibility to defend our Constitution

December 31, 2022

David Adler Columns

Constitutionally Speaking, A Former President May Be Prosecuted

No special dispensation is required to permit prosecution of a citizen

December 24, 2022

David Adler Columns

Law and History Reject Unlimited Legislative Power

"An elective despotism was not the government we fought for"

December 17, 2022

David Adler Columns

Donald Trump’s call to terminate the Constitution

Although the Constitution is indestructible, it is yet subject to amendments

December 10, 2022

David Adler Columns

Lynch v. Donnelly: Christmas Creche and the Constitution

Does a nativity display violate the First Amendment?

December 3, 2022

David Adler Columns

Near v. Minnesota: Bulwark of Press Freedom

The court built protection for freedom of the press against governmental censorship

November 26, 2022

Wyoming Humanities awards more Spark Grants across the state for fall

Four organizations received funding in this cycle

November 14, 2022

David Adler Columns

Affirmative Action in universities: Has it a future?

Programs have suffered declining public support since the 1978 ruling

November 5, 2022

Students encouraged to enter “Letters About Literature”

Submissions will be accepted through Jan. 31

October 31, 2022

David Adler Columns

Presidents and former presidents are subject to subpoenas

It's a reminder of the American ideal that all are equal in the eyes of the law

October 29, 2022

David Adler Columns

Equal protection: Serving sons and daughters

The 1996 decision exalted women’s rights under the Equal Protection Clause

October 22, 2022

David Adler Columns

Muller v. Oregon: Protection for women in the workplace

The Court for the first-time treated women as a separate class

October 15, 2022

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court in 1873: Women unfit to practice law

Not every landmark decision championed the rights of Americans

October 9, 2022

Author from Shell selected for National Book Festival by Wyoming Humanities

Mary Flitner is the author of "My Ranch, Too"

October 6, 2022

David Adler Columns

US v. Smith: No presidential power to initiate war

Nothing in the Constitution empowers the president to repeal an act of Congress

October 1, 2022

David Adler Columns

A little-known landmark ruling of historic dimensions

In short, this decision was a blockbuster

September 24, 2022

David Adler Columns

The Court Protects the American Labor Movement

The stunning 1937 decision came with enormous economic and societal importance

September 17, 2022

David Adler Columns

The Court, the Minimum Wage Ruling and the Holy Ghost

This helped protect women and children from exploitation

September 10, 2022

David Adler Columns

Shelley v. Kraemer: 'My little soul is overjoyed'

The decision rendered racial covenants unenforceable

September 3, 2022

Wyoming Humanities to present “The Citizen & The Constitution”

Five Wyoming locations will host a conversation with Dr. David Adler

August 30, 2022

"A Sissy in Wyoming" to tour the state

The play focuses on the life of Wyoming activist Larry "Sissy" Goodwin

August 29, 2022

David Adler Columns

Gideon’s trumpet: Toward equality in criminal justice

The opinion reflected the determination to create one rule for rich and poor alike

August 27, 2022

Wyoming Humanities opens new round of grants for non-profit organizations

Organizations could receive funding up to $10,000

August 25, 2022

Wyoming Humanities awards Spark Grants across the state this summer

The projects highlight Wyoming's cultural innovation

August 22, 2022

David Adler Columns

Loving v. Virginia: Equal means equal

The landmark ruling affirmed marriage as a fundamental right

August 20, 2022

David Adler Columns

Lochnerizing: Supreme Court cements substantive due process

The case represented a historic moment for its influence on constitutional law

David Adler Columns

'Like a loaded weapon:' the Korematsu ruling as a threat

The decision was a national disaster — one that will live in infamy

David Adler Columns

Korematsu: A heart-breaking decision by the US Supreme Court

It represents a cautionary tale for a nation that might willingly scatter its principles

David Adler Columns

Constitutional principles for the ages: McCulloch for Maryland

The Constitution springs from the hands of the sovereign people, not the states

David Adler Columns

Shaping the future of American constitutional law

This case explored the extent of federal power and the limits of state authority

David Adler Columns

McCulloch v. Maryland: The greatest of landmark decisions

The Court’s ruling was explosive in its impact

David Adler Columns

Constitutional responses to emergencies

The Constitution's framers refused to vest emergency power with the president.

David Adler Columns

Emergencies and the Constitution: Retroactive ratification

Does the president possess an inherent power, often referred to as emergency power?

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court rebukes Truman’s seizure of steel mills

The fact is Congress had not authorized the president to seize private property

David Adler Columns

Steel Seizure Case ruling reins in presidential power

It has achieved landmark status and deserving rank in the pantheon of “great” cases

Wyoming Humanities launches new podcast

“Winds of Change” explores the people, places, history, and stories of Wyoming

David Adler Columns

Loving: The Supreme Court upholds interracial marriage

This represented a powerful blow to one of the remaining remnants of Jim Crow

Wyoming Humanities awards latest round of Crossroads grants

These programs dig deep into the larger themes of the Wyoming Crossroads initiative

David Adler Columns

Saluting the flag: A matter of speech and religious liberty

The two interpretations often have been the subject of debate

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court: A right to refuse to salute the flag?

The Court had a dramatic reversal in just three short years

Wyoming Humanities will highlight Sheridan author for National Book Festival

The selection is "The Marvelous Invention of Orion McBride" by Tyler Rogers

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court: State actors may not lead school prayer

The Court had declared the existence of a wall separating church and state

Wyoming Humanities names 2022 "Letters About Literature" winners

Hundreds of students across the state participated in this year's program

David Adler Columns

The Supreme Court and religion: Entering the maze

This ruling foreshadowed the controversy that surrounds us to this day

Wyoming Humanities awards more Spark Grants in April

Three organizations across the state received funding this month

David Adler Columns

Brown and racial equality in public education

The Court held that separate but equal educational facilities are “inherently unequal”

David Adler Columns

The Brown decision and America's commitment to equality

The ruling is in the pantheon of America’s greatest judicial decisions

David Adler Columns

Earl Warren: Finding 'the notion of equality'

The Chief Justice’s simple approach appealed to the ultimate human values involved

David Adler Columns

The Brown decision: Twists and turns shape the Constitution

Unpredictable twists and turns shape American constitutional law

David Adler Columns

Justice Harlan’s Imperishable Dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson

He became “the great dissenter” in American constitutional history

David Adler Columns

Plessy v. Ferguson: An infamous landmark ruling

Not all landmark Supreme Court decisions are admirable

Wyoming Humanities awards Spark Grants for first quarter of 2022

Seven organizations across the state received funding

David Adler Columns

Without freedom of the press: Life behind the Iron Curtain

Armed with knowledge about the war, the Russian people might rise in opposition

David Adler Columns

Supreme Court rules on secrecy vs. public’s right to know

The decision opened a window onto the government’s decision-making...and deceit

David Adler Columns

The Pentagon Papers case and the right to know

Even Jefferson observed that newspapers were indispensable to "the people's right to know"

February 26, 2022

David Adler Columns

The Sullivan decision: Affirming the right to criticize government

Criticism of government and public officials is the central meaning of the 1st Amendment

February 19, 2022

Wyoming Humanities awards more than half a million dollars across the state

Funds were made possible through a National Endowment for the Humanities initiative

February 13, 2022

David Adler Columns

NY Times v. Sullivan saves freedom of the press

The case checks all the definitional boxes of a landmark ruling

February 12, 2022

UPDATED: Wyoming students have until March 4 to enter Letters About Literature

How did an author’s work change your view of the world or yourself?

February 7, 2022

David Adler Columns

The Abrams dissent: New life for freedom of speech

Seldom has a dissenting opinion attained landmark status

February 5, 2022

David Adler Columns

Justice Holmes' changing conception of free speech

Justices can and do change their minds about the meaning of the Constitution

January 29, 2022

David Adler Columns

Free speech origins: Clear and present danger test

America’s free speech story did not begin until World War I

January 22, 2022

David Adler Columns

Clinton v. Jones, presidential immunity and Donald Trump

How can the president be held accountable

January 15, 2022

David Adler Columns

McCulloch v. Maryland: Why we have implied powers

Many legal scholars believe it's the most important decision rendered by the Supreme Court

January 8, 2022

David Adler Columns

Cooper v. Aaron: Striking down nullification, again

The case appeared to threaten the very existence of the United States as a nation

January 1, 2022

Check out the Wyoming Humanities List of Grantees for 2020-2021

December 31, 2021

David Adler Columns

Why federal courts possess authority over states

The authority of the federal courts to review and judge state acts and laws indispensable

December 25, 2021

David Adler Columns

Federalist 78: Foundation for Marbury v. Madison

The writings represented the matured conclusions of the framers of the Constitution

December 18, 2021

David Adler Columns

Origins of judicial review and Marbury v. Madison

The citizenry is entitled to understand the sources of this constitutional power

December 11, 2021

David Adler Columns

Marbury v. Madison: The greatest of landmark decisions

The power of judicial review ensures that we could say: 'the government cannot do this'

December 4, 2021

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