Judicial independence has been described as the “cornerstone of democracy.” Appropriately so. As attacks on courts intensify around the world, we must join together in solidarity to defend judicial independence and to support those who do so much to protect it, often at great personal cost. It is in this spirt that we will honor Luís Roberto Barroso, President of the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil, with the inaugural Prize in Constitutional Courage. We are pleased that President Barroso will be in attendance at the Global Summit on Constitutionalism to receive this award. All are welcome!

In her new paper – coming soon in the Oxford Handbook on Comparative Human Rights – Alexandra Huneeus examines what she calls “non-human rights,” defined as the rights of non-human living creatures (bears, for instance) and non-living entities and concepts that are not legally constructed institutions (like mountains, forests, ecosystems). How are these rights recognized and interpreted, and how do they relate to traditional human rights? Huneeus explains with reference to Latin America.

In an historic ruling, the Constitutional Court of Taiwan upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty, but substantially limited its application.

Pointing to the severity and irreversibility of the punishment, the Court reasoned that the death penalty must be applied only for the most heinous crimes. The ruling is a disappointment for death penalty opponents around the world but nonetheless a big leap forward in Taiwan, where public approval for capital punishment remains high.

The next EURAC-Innsbruck Winter School will focus on federalism and the separation of powers. Held over two weeks, the Winter School will dive into federal power-sharing arrangements in Africa, Asia, the EU and North America. Registration closes on October 13, 2025.

Edward Elgar will release Cara Röhner's book on Constitutions and Inequality in October. It has already attracted high praise, namely from Ruth Rubio Marín, who observes that this book is “an absolute must read for anyone who is aware of the critical moment liberal democracies are undergoing and has not entirely lost hope in the transformative potential of constitutions and their promise of freedom, equality and justice.”

In the next installment of our virtual course on challenges to democracy and constitutionalism in the Americas, Rodrigo Brito will convene a discussion with José María Serna de la Garza and Ruth Zavaleta Salgado on Mexican constitutional law and politics. This is a timely discussion given the recent controversial judicial reforms in Mexico. All are welcome. Tuesday, September 24, at 6pm Mexico time.

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To register for this free seminar, please email Rodrigo Brito at rbritom@derecho.unam.mx.This virtual course is co-sponsored by the UNAM School of Law, UNAM San Antonio, UNAM PAME, the Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Constitucional, and the International Forum on the Future of Constitutionalism.

Join us for the 2025 Global Summit on Constitutionalism here at the University of Texas at Austin on March 20-22, 2025. The Global Summit is an international conference showcasing all areas of constitutionalism. There is no cost to register. Group meals are provided. The first edition was held in 2021. The second in 2023. The 2025 Global Summit will be the third edition. All are welcome! Details and registration here.

Last week, the United States observed Constitution Day, commemorating the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. To mark the occasion, I recommend Rick Larue's short interview with Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center. 

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There are only 13 copies of the first printing of the U.S. Constitution. One of them recently sold at action for $43.2 million.

It was a joy to host Allan Rock, former Attorney General of Canada, and Jorge Madrazo, former Attorney General of Mexico, for BBQ dinner at my favorite restaurant here in Austin. Earlier in the day, Rock spoke to students in my advanced constitutional law course about the cases he litigated and laws he sponsored as Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada in connection with Quebec's failed efforts to secede from the country in 1995. The title of his outstanding lecture was Canada, Quebec and Secession: The Constitutional Consequences of a Referendum. 

On September 9, the Constitutional Studies Program here at the University of Texas at Austin awarded the Book of the Year prize to Wim Voermans for The Story of Constitutions: Discovering the We in Us (Cambridge University Press). The ceremony featured a presentation by Voermans, comments from Zachary Elkins, and Q&A with the audience. 
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Congratulations to Wim!