NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The History and Political Science Department at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will hold its annual Constitution Day Lecture at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 in Murdock Hall Room 218 on the MCLA campus.  

 

This event is free and open to the public, and a remote viewing option is available; register for online viewing at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ghaDyNKTnW-8PJ3xQMcRw. 

 

Paul M. Collins, Jr., professor of legal studies and political science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, will give a talk titled "Is This the Most Conservative Supreme Court in the Modern Era?"  

 

According to a press release, The additions of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney-Barrett solidified a Supreme Court with six justices appointed by Republican presidents. While conservatives praised this development, liberals expressed fear that the Supreme Court will restrict abortion access, roll back civil rights and liberties guarantees, and expand the power of business interests. This lecture explores these possibilities, including how we as a nation got to this moment, and what to expect from the Supreme Court in the 2020s and beyond. 

 

Collins' research interests include understanding the democratic nature of the judiciary, interdisciplinary approaches to legal decision making, and social movement litigation. He has published articles in the "Journal of Empirical Legal Studies," "Journal of Law and Courts," "Journal of Politics," "Law & Social Inquiry," "Law & Society Review," "Notre Dame Law Review," "Political Research Quarterly," and other journals. 

 

He is the author of three books on the Supreme Court and is currently a member of the editorial boards of the Justice System Journal and Law & Social Inquiry, and formerly sat on the boards of Law & Society Review and Political Research Quarterly. His research and commentary have appeared in a host of popular media outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, National Law Journal, National Public Radio, San Francisco Chronicle, Time, USA Today, Voice of America, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.