The Constitution in Context
The Constitution Project assembled a panel of constitutional scholars and legal experts to discuss issues raised by the Justices in our videos. Presented here are a number of excerpts from Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Sandra Day O’Connor, Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., each followed by an analysis and commentary from the panel.  You can also choose to view just the commentary.
Expert Commentary Questions
What does due process mean?
How do cases get to the Supreme Court?
Why is it necessary to deliver an opinion?
Why do we have nine Supreme Court Justices?
Who was the greatest Supreme Court Chief Justice?
How did you prepare to argue before the Supreme Court?
What gave Gideon the right to petition the Court?
What would we lose without the 14th Amendment?
Is the 14th Amendment interpreted differently over time?
Do we need an Equal Rights Amendment?
What are the most important things that we should know about the Korematsu and Hirabayashi decisions?
Since Korematsu was not overturned, is it still a precedent today?
How do the Constitution and the courts decide how to balance individual rights and national security in times of war?

Does the president have the power to suspend the rule of habeas corpus?

Are there rights that can be suspended in times of war?  And if so, what are they?

Why are independent courts important?

Are there rights that are so fundamental that the president and Congress cannot suspend them, even in times of war?

If circumstances similar to those during the Japanese internment era were present today, would it be ruled constitutional to intern some groups of citizens?

Personal recollections by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

Did Japanese-Americans serve in the U.S. military during World War II?

 
 
 

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