Constitutional Law Center Events

An integral part of the Constitutional Law Center's mission is the various lectures that invite the nation's top scholars, judges, and lawyers to campus.

Distinguished Lecture Series

The Constitutional Law Center's Distinguished Lecture Series brings to campus the nation's leading constitutional scholars to engage students and faculty on the important issues of the day. Speakers deliver a formal lecture, teach a class, and meet with students in informal settings.

Aziz Z. Huq
Frank and Bernice J. Greenberg Professor of Law, University of Chicago The Law School
Thursday, April 2, 2026
3:00 PM James Albert Classroom, Cartwright Hall

Constitutional Law Symposium

The annual Constitutional Law Symposium invites scholars, judges, and lawyers from across the country to discuss a timely constitutional issue. The proceedings are published in the Drake Law Review.

"The Roberts Court, Executive Power, and the American Experiment in Self-Government"
Saturday, April 11, 2026
8:30 AM - 1 PM James Albert Classroom, Cartwright Hall

Precis: Presidents of both parties have pushed the boundaries of executive power. Absent war or economic calamity, however, no president has exercised executive power as vigorously as has President Trump particularly during his second administration. An aggressive reading of what is known as the unitary executive theory underpins many of President Trump’s actions. The Roberts Court consequently has grappled with momentous issues of separation of powers. The panelists to the 2026 Drake Constitutional Law Symposium were asked to discuss the unitary executive theory, separation of powers, and what developments in executive power might portend for the American experiment in self-government.

Speakers:

Andrea Scoseria Katz, Associate Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law 

Aaron L. Nielson, Charles I. Francis Professorship in Law,
Professor at University of Texas at Austin School of Law and former Texas Attorney General 

Victoria Nourse, Ralph V. Whitworth Professor in Law, Georgetown Law School, Executive Director of its Center on Congressional Studies and Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Peter M. Shane, Professor Emeritus of The Ohio State Moritz College of Law, Distinguished Scholar in Residence, New York University School of Law

Constitution Day Lecture

Each year, Drake University holds an event in honor of Constitution Day. The event usually involves a speech by a distinguished expert in constitutional law. The speaker also typically meets with the faculty at the law school. 

"Aligning Constitutional Law"

Nicholas O. Stephanopoulos
Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
3:00 PM James Albert Classroom, Cartwright Hall

Watch recording here

Judge James Grant Iowa Constitution Lecture Series

In 2012, the Center initiated the Judge James Grant Iowa Constitution Lecture Series to feature prominent experts on the topic of the Iowa Constitution every other year. The event is made possible by the generous gifts of Patrick Grant, LW'76, and family. 

Dwight D. Opperman Lecture series

In 1988, Dwight D. Opperman, LW'51, former chairman of West Publishing Company, endowed the lecture series to bring the country's top jurists and legal scholars to Drake. Since then, 11 U.S. Supreme Court justices have delivered the Opperman Lecture.

"Fireside Chat" Lecture

Judge Holly Thomas
U.S. Circuit Court Judge for the Ninth Circuit, CA
Monday, September 8th, 2025
12:30 PM Free "Grab and Go" Pizza lunch
12:40 PM Program
James Albert Classroom, Cartwright Hall (Room 213)
Moderated by Dean Roscoe Jones Jr. and Professor Mark Kende

Prior to being confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2022, Judge Holly Thomas worked as a civil rights attorney and a prosecutor, a litigator and an administrator, a state law practitioner and a federal law practitioner, and both a criminal law attorney and a civil law attorney. She is a recipient of several awards and commendations for exceptional performance, including the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service and the John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice. 

This program was not recorded.

View a list of the Drake Constitutional Law Center's past events.