Georgetown Law

When Professor Stephanie Barclay of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution opened Justice O'Connor's recently released private papers at the Library of Congress, she found something that challenges a common assumption about how the Supreme Court treats religious minorities.

We spoke to Barclay about this research and two other projects: a book on judicial power and democratic governance and her next focus, AI and the First Amendment.

Read the full Q&A:

What I’m Working On: Professor Stephanie Barclay on Constitutional Rights and Democratic Governance For constitutional law scholar and Anne Fleming Research Professor Stephanie Barclay, constitutional rights are at the heart of the tension between judicial power and democratic governance.

Hugo Grotius, known as the "father of international law," wrote his most influential work from prison and published it after escaping hidden in a chest of books.

The 17th century Dutch diplomat laid the groundwork for modern international law. In "On the Law of War and Peace," he argued that binding rules must govern how nations conduct war and identified three just causes for armed conflict: self-defense, reparation of injury and punishment. Those ideas became the foundation of international humanitarian law as we know it.

His earlier work, "The Free Seas," argued in 1609 that the oceans are international territory open to all nations, a principle that still holds today.

The Georgetown Law Library Special Collections holds six early editions of his work dating from 1626 to 1712 in both Latin and English. One edition is even printed in a rare "duodecimo" format, just 11.5 by 6 centimeters, small enough to fit in a coat pocket.

Read more on pg. 45 of our Spring 2026 Magazine: https://bit.ly/4opnH4E

Former NFL running back Ken Jenkins helped expose "race norming," the practice of applying different cognitive benchmarks to Black players that limited their access to compensation through the NFL Concussion Settlement. This spring, Georgetown Law students heard directly from Jenkins and the attorneys behind the historic $1.6 billion agreement through a first-of-its-kind practicum course.

Students in the course analyzed real, redacted client files, roleplayed as the special master overseeing the settlement and heard firsthand from the attorneys who negotiated it.

“Understanding the human impact of cases like this is so important for developing emotional maturity as a legal advocate,” said Sydney Veazie, L’26.

Read more: https://bit.ly/49QYFWd

"It is a fun time to be a trade lawyer, but it's exhausting." That's how Stephen Orava, L'93, describes the current moment in international trade law. The Spring 2026 Georgetown Law Magazine cover story features faculty and alumni at the Institute of International Economic Law navigating unprecedented volatility.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4ulLEem

Expect the Unexpected: What Happens When Trade Laws are Upended? Since the second Trump administration took office in early 2025, trade law has been on a wild ride.

At the close of the spring semester, Georgetown Law—joined by special guests Judge Zia Faruqui, C’01, L’04, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and Judge J.P. Howard, L’10, of the D.C. Court of Appeals—celebrated 64 members of the Class of 2026 who secured 72 clerkships in 48 courts across 28 states and territories, from D.C. to Hawaii to the U.S. Virgin Islands!

In the coming months, Hoya Lawyas will join chambers at all levels of the judiciary— from state and federal trial courts, to specialty courts like the U.S. Tax Court to state and federal appeals courts. Congratulations to all! 👏

The Georgetown Law Journal capped off the spring semester by welcoming University of Michigan Law School Professor Leah Litman, co-host of “Strict Scrutiny,” one of the most popular legal podcasts in the country, to a packed Hart Auditorium.

Georgetown Law Professor Steve Vladeck moderated a discussion of Litman's upcoming GLJ article, "The Passive Vices," which examines the mechanisms the Supreme Court uses to avoid decisions. GLJ editors also shared insights into how the editorial team brings a submitted article to publication.

📸: Brent Futrell

Today and every day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 🇺🇸

The full collection of photos from the 2026 Georgetown Law Commencement ceremony is here! 🎓

From the procession across campus to crossing the stage on Healy Lawn and celebrating with family and friends, browse all the moments from the day. Tag yourself and share your favorites!