Originalist Ideology and the Rule of Law
Journal of Constitutional Law Heightened Scrutiny, Vol. 15, 2012
UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series
11 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2012 Last revised: 3 Apr 2013
Date Written: September 12, 2012
Abstract
This essay contends that one of the basic tenets of the "New Originalism" -- the so-called "contribution thesis" -- compromises our underlying commitment to the rule of law. By locating some binding substantive content of constitutional language in a historical record beyond the text itself, originalism undermines the fundamental concepts of formal legality and public accessibility. With these issues in mind, the essay concludes that originalism is not a philosophical account of how the Constitution has meaning in our legal system, but is instead a judicial ideology intended to promote the constitutional policy judgments of an earlier generation.
Keywords: Originalism, Rule of Law, Contribution Thesis, Solum, Whittington, Barnett, Tamanaha, Sean Wilson
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