John Paul Stevens Lecture

Justice John Paul Stevens with former Dean Phil Weiser at the inaugural Stevens Lecture

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former Dean Phil Weiser at the 2nd Annual Stevens Lecture

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at the 3rd Annual Stevens Lecture

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Professor Melissa Hart at the 3rd Annual Stevens Lecture

Justice Antonin Scalia at the 4th Annual Stevens Lecture

Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Professor Melissa Hart at the 5th Annual Stevens Lecture

10th Circuit Judge Carlos Lucero and Professor Suzette Malveaux at the 7th Annual Stevens Lecture

Justice Elena Kegan and Professor Suzette Malveaux at the 8th Annual Stevens Lecture

South African Constitutional Court Justice Zak Yacoob and Professor Suzette Malveaux at the 9th Annual Stevens Lecture

6th Circuit Judge Bernice Donald with Professor Suzette Malveaux at the 10th Annual Stevens Lecture

The annual John Paul Stevens Lecture brings a distinguished jurist to Colorado Law to discuss judging and the state of the judiciary. United States Associate Justice John Paul Stevens delivered the inaugural lecture in September 2011. Since then, the lecture has been given by former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Zak Yacoob (2020); U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan (2019); Judge Carlos F. Lucero, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2018); former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, New York Court of Appeals (2017); Justice Sonia Sotomayor (2016); Justice Antonin Scalia (2014); Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (2013), and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2012). The signature fireside chat format of the lecture presents an opportunity for law students, lawyers, and community members to hear about the jurists’ approach to the bench, career, legal philosophy, and law school advice. The lecture often attracts over 2,000 people to CU Boulder’s Macky Auditorium, and is streamed for a national audience.

Twelfth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture featuring Sabrina McKenna, Associate Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court

Justice McKenna

Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna of the Hawaii Supreme Court joined the Colorado Law community on Thursday, October 26, 2023, to deliver the 12th annual John Paul Stevens Lecture, entitled “State Constitutional Law: The Critical Course Missing from Most Law School Curricula.”

Professor Suzette Malveaux and Justice McKenna engaged in a fireside chat about the historical and continued critical importance of state constitutions in the protection of civil, criminal, and environmental rights, especially considering the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and the existential threat of climate change. Justice McKenna will also offered practical advice to law students and lawyers in their presentation of constitutional questions. McKenna is the first Asian American and member of the LBGTQ community to deliver the Stevens Lecture.

This lecture, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law. It took place in Wittemyer Courtroom at the Wolf Law Building, 2450 Kittredge Loop Drive, Boulder, CO 80305, from 5-6 p.m. MT. Justice McKenna’s remarks were followed by a Q&A with Colorado Law students, and a reception in Boettcher Hall from 6-7 p.m. MT.

(Colorado Law Students: This is a C.A.R.E. Pledge eligible event.)

Previous Stevens Lecture Speakers

2022 annual John Paul Stevens Lecture featuring Angela R. Riley, Chief Justice, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Supreme Court

Angela R. Riley, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma, and Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles presented the 11th annual John Paul Stevens Lecture. An internationally esteemed jurist and scholar, Justice Riley became the youngest person and first woman to be elected as justice of the Supreme Court of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma in 2003 and in 2010 was elected as Chief Justice.

In conversation with Suzette Malveaux, Director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law, she explained the role of tribal courts in ensuring justice in Indian country. Justice Riley's remarks and fireside chat with Professor and Director of the White Center Professor Suzette Malveaux was followed by a Q&A with Colorado Law students and the broader community. Read more about Justice Riley and the lecture here.

Watch the Recording:

2021 Stevens Lecture featuring Judge Bernice Donald of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the 2021 John Paul Stevens Lecture took place on October 19 virtually and in-person at the University of Colorado Law School. The Honorable Bernice B. Donald of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit spoke on defining the “Rule of Law.” Opening remarks were given by Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss, Professor Suzette Malveaux, director of the Byron R. White Center and Provost Professor of Civil Rights Law; and Kathryn A. Starnella, president-elect of the Colorado Women's Bar Association, a co-sponsor of the event. Read more about the lecture here.

Watch the Recording:

2020 Stevens Lecture with former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Zak Yacoob

Zak Yacoob, a former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered the ninth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture virtually at 12:00 p.m. MT on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. Justice Yacoob is the first international justice to present the Stevens Lecture. Yacoob is well-known nationally and internationally for his contributions to the socioeconomic rights and jurisprudence of South Africa. Justice Yacoob shared his thoughts on the role of the courts, social justice, and racial equality. His remarks and virtual fireside chat with Professor and Director of the White Center Professor Suzette Malveaux were followed by a Q&A with Colorado Law students.

Watch the Recording:

2019 Stevens Lecture with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan visited the University of Colorado Boulder campus Oct. 22-23, 2019, giving the University of Colorado Law School’s John Paul Stevens Lecture at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Macky Auditorium and meeting with students during select events.

Justice Kagan answered questions in a fireside chat format moderated by Provost Professor of Law and Director of the White Center Suzette Malveaux, followed by a question and answer session with questions from Colorado Law students.

Watch the recording:

2018 Stevens Lecture with Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Judge Carlos F. Lucero

On Sept. 27, 2018, the Hon. Carlos F. Lucero, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, delivered the seventh annual John Paul Stevens Lecture. Lucero’s talk, "A Constitutional Call to Arms and Reflections on a Judicial Career,” focused on contemporary challenges to the Constitution and the role of lawyers in supporting and defending the Constitution.

The lecture included a Q&A discussion with Suzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Civil Rights Law and director of the White Center. Lucero also responded to questions from student leaders Leah Fugere (’20), president of the Christian Legal Society; Nicholas Monck (’19), president of the Student Bar Association; and Hannah Regan-Smith (‘19), editor-in-chief of the University of Colorado Law Review.

Watch the recording:

Read the published transcript of Judge Lucero's remarks

2017 Stevens Lecture with Former Chief Judge of New York Judge Jonathan Lippman

The 2017 John Paul Stevens Lecture took place September 26 at the Carr Judicial Center in Denver. Former Chief Judge of the State of New York Jonathan Lippman spoke on “Changing the Dialogue on Access to Justice.”

2016 Stevens Lecture with Justice Sonia Sotomayor

On September 2, 2016, Justice Sonia Sotomayor visited Boulder and participated in a Q&A conversation with more than 1,500 participants for the fifth annual Stevens Lecture. The audience included students, faculty and community members from the metro area. Additionally, high school students traveled to Boulder from all over Colorado to meet with Justice Sotomayor and attend the event.

2014 Stevens Lecture with Justice Antonin Scalia

The fourth annual Stevens Lecture was given by Senior Associate Justice Antonin Scalia on October 1, 2014, and discussed constitutional interpretation. More than 1,500 people attended the live lecture at Macky Auditorium, and nearly 400 people watched the live stream of the lecture at University of Wyoming Law School, William & Mary Law School, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, Western State Colorado University, Ridgway High School, and inside the Wittemyer Courtroom at the University of Colorado Law School.

View the photo gallery

2013 Stevens Lecture with Former Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Former Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor delivered the third annual Stevens Lecture on September 17, 2013. Nearly 1,000 people watched live, with additional satellite audiences in the Wolf Law building and colleges throughout Colorado.

Boulder Daily Camera Coverage of the 3rd Annual Stevens Lecture

CU Independent Coverage of the 3rd Annual Stevens Lecture

View the photo gallery

2012 Stevens Lecture with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The second annual Stevens Lecture was given by Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 19, 2012. Nearly 1,000 people watched the lecture live, while satellite audiences enjoyed the lecture from Wolf Law, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, and Colorado Mesa University.

View the photo gallery