A fitting event today for the great Jim Gardner, whose scholarship is exceeded only by his decency and generosity as a colleague. I’m sorry to miss this:
Jim Gardner is a distinguished scholar of constitutional law, election law, and comparative law whose work has shaped the field for more than three decades. The author of six books and more than 60 articles, he is among the most prolific and influential voices in public law. A gifted political theorist, an inspiring teacher, and a dedicated academic administrator, Jim has exemplified the life of an engaged scholar.
As he enters emeritus status after an extraordinary career, GardnerFest celebrates his contributions to election law. We have gathered a distinguished group of academics to honor his work, reflect on his influence, and meditate on the insights that have defined his scholarship.
Roundtable One: Illiberalism, Populism, Ethnonationalism, and Authoritarianism: Assessing the State of American Democracy
- Discussion Leaders
- Rebecca Green
- Rick Pildes
- Nick Stephanopoulos
- Primary Texts:
- The Illiberalism of American Election Law (RG)
- Illiberalism and Authoritarianism in the American States (RP)
- Democracy without A Net? (NS)
Roundtable Two: What Campaigns Are For in 21st-century American Democracy?
- Discussion Leaders
- Sam Issacharoff
- Doug Spencer
- Spencer Overton
- Primary Text:
- What Are Campaigns For? The Role of Persuasion in Electoral Law & Politics
Roundtable Three: Federalism, Parties, and Judicial Review: The Limits of Structural Restraints?
- Discussion Leaders
- Jacob Eisler
- Gene Mazo
- Michael Kang
- Primary Texts
- The Myth of State Autonomy (JE)
- Federalism and the Limits of Subnational Political Heterogeneity (GM)
- Can Party Politics be Virtuous? (MK)
Concluding Roundtable: Digital Communication and Democratic Backsliding: The Rise of Deilocracy
- Presenter
- Jim Gardner
- Discussion Leaders
- Guy Charles
- Luis Fuentes-Rohwer