The Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law
The Byron R. White Center was founded in 1990 through the generous bequest of Colorado Law alumnus Ira C. Rothgerber. The work of the Byron White Center is premised on the belief that an informed and engaged community is essential to our Constitutional democracy. Our mission is to support excellence in Constitutional legal scholarship, offer opportunities for Colorado Law students to promote justice, expand public knowledge and informed discussion about the Constitution.
Former United States Supreme Court Justice Byron R. White was born in Wellington, Colorado in 1918. After graduating at the top of his high school class, Byron White chose to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating in 1938 as the student body president, class valedictorian and an extraordinary athlete. White was named to the All-American football team his senior year.
After graduating from CU Boulder, Justice White played professional football for one year in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he led the league in rushing yards. In 1939, he studied in Oxford, England as a Rhodes Scholar. His studies, however, ended prematurely with the eruption of World War II. He came home that same year and began studying at Yale Law School, also taking courses at Colorado Law. He then took a leave of absence to play two more years of professional football with the Detroit Lions, using his salary to pay his law school tuition. In 1941, White left behind both law school and football to join the Navy Reserve. As an intelligence officer stationed in the Pacific Theater, he received two bronze stars. He returned to Yale after three years of military service and completed his law degree in 1945.
White clerked for Supreme Court Justice Fred Vinson for the 1946 term, and moved back to Colorado in 1947 with his wife, Marion Lloyd Stearns. He started his law practice with a firm called Newton, Davis & Henry (known today as Davis, Graham and Stubbs, LLP). In 1960, White took an active role in John F. Kennedy’s bid for the presidency. Following Kennedy’s election, White became a Deputy Attorney General and less than a year later, in 1962, White was appointed the ninety-third Justice of the Supreme Court.
Over the thirty-one years that Justice White served on the Supreme Court, some of the most pivotal cases of our times were decided, with Justice White writing over nine hundred opinions. He is known for his practical approach to the law, heavily weighing the facts and circumstances of each case and fiercely questioning attorneys in their arguments. Upon his retirement from the Supreme Court in 1993, he maintained an office and heard cases in both Washington, D.C., and by designation, on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. White passed away in 2002 at the age of 84.
Upcoming Events
The Byron R. White Center and the Colorado Law Advancement team present the 2026 U.S. Supreme Court Term Review, sponsored by the generous support of Faegre Drinker. The stakes at the U.S. Supreme Court this term remain at an all-time high, with effects that will be felt across the nation. Join us as a distinguished panel of former U.S. Supreme Court clerks and legal scholars discuss the notable cases the U.S. Supreme Court decided during the 2025-2026 term and the impact of those decisions on practitioners.
Panelists for the 2025-26 U.S. Supreme Court Term Review:
P. Deep Gulasekaram (Moderator), Professor of Law and Director of Byron White Center
Helen Norton, University Distinguished Professor and Rothgerber Chair in Constitutional Law
Scott Skinner-Thompson, Professor of Law & Dean's Scholar
Doug Spencer, Professor of Law and Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. Chair in Constitutional Law
Aaron D. Van Oort, Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
Time: 12:00-1:30pm
Location: Faegre Drinker
The Byron White Center presents a lunch talk with Mike Paulsen titled "Colorado Was Right! The U.S. Supreme Court's Great Train Robbery in Trump v. Anderson (or "Why Trump is Not President").
In person attendance is encouraged and lunch will be provided. If you are unable to attend in person, you may join by zoom. Registration is not required.
Additional details will be shared at a later date!
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Wolf Law Building, Room TBD, 2450 Kittredge Loop Dr. Boulder, CO 80305
The Byron R. White Center and the Colorado Law Advancement team present the 2026 U.S. Supreme Court Term Review, sponsored by the generous support of Faegre Drinker. The stakes at the U.S. Supreme Court this term remain at an all-time high, with effects that will be felt across the nation. Join us as a distinguished panel of Colorado Law Faculty discuss the notable cases the U.S. Supreme Court decided during the 2025-2026 term and the impact of those decisions on practitioners.
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Room 206, Wolf Law Building
This year's 15th Annual Stevens Lecture will feature Judge Carlton W. Reeves, a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. Additional details and the topic of discussion will be announced at a later date! Please visit our event page below for the most up to date information.
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom, 2450 Kittredge Loop Dr. Boulder, CO 80305
Annual Fall Programming
Annual Spring Programming
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