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Stephen E. Sachs

@stephenesachs.bsky.social

4.2K followers 83 following 350 posts

Antonin Scalia Professor of Law, Harvard Law School stevesachs.com

Stephen Edward Sachs is an American legal scholar who is the Antonin Scalia Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is a scholar of constitutional law, civil procedure, conflict of laws, and originalism. .. more

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

NOW AVAILABLE at @constitutionctr.bsky.social and @ssrn.bsky.social :

"Restoring Conventions, One Amendment at a Time"

A new paper on a new way to revitalize Article V, by letting states move first. (1/)

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 3d

Two years.

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 9d

October:

Reposted by Daniel B. Rodriguez

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

And here, in the Boston Globe:

"Let the States Get the Ball Rolling on Amendments"

7/
apps.bostonglobe.com/ideas/graphi...

Editing the Constitution | Let states get the ball rolling on amendments

If we, the people, are to form a more perfect union, then we must update the Constitution as our society evolves. Globe Ideas has asked legal experts, advocates, and journalists what rewrites the Cons...

apps.bostonglobe.com

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

Prior coverage here, in the Harvard Gazette:

"Amendments Should Start With States"

6/

news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...

Amendments should start with states: Stephen Sachs

The Constitution is centuries-old and, in the eyes of many, out of touch with contemporary America. Five scholars suggest repairs.

news.harvard.edu

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

Some sample language for an amendment: 5/

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

And now on SSRN: 4/

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

Originally published as part of the National Constitution Center's Article V Project: 3/

constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/...

Restoring Conventions, One Amendment at a Time

constitutioncenter.org

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · 11d

From the introduction: 2/

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Sep 4

Congratulations to my 1L students on their first day of Civil Procedure! Syllabus below, for those who'd like to follow along at home:

stevesachs.com/syllabi/civp...

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Sep 2

Some professional news, as they say! Honored to be among these new members of the Board of Directors of the Federalist Society.

fedsoc.org/commentary/f...

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Sep 1

September:

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 24

Solar-powered cat recharging

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 21

Rest of syllabus and reading list:

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 21

Attention incoming Harvard Law students: consider signing up for my new 1L Reading Group, "Conservative Legal Thought"!

Syllabus below, for those interested (or interested in following along at home):

stevesachs.com/syllabi/cons...

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 20

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 20

Available for signup on Friday, my Fall 2025 reading group on Jurisprudence!

Here's the syllabus, both as screenshots and link, for those interested (or just following along at home):

stevesachs.com/syllabi/juri...

1/

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 10

Interesting juxtaposition:

www.thetimes.com/world/middle...

Western leaders condemn Israel — yet their armies ask it for advice

Democratic critics of the Gaza war must stop separating what they know privately from what they say publicly, write a former IDF defence minister and an expert in urban warfare

www.thetimes.com

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 10

Part of my Shabbos reading list (a new habit I’m trying to build). Short and recommended.

Adam Kirsch, “On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice”

www.amazon.com/Settler-Colo...

On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice

www.amazon.com

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 8

Here's an updated proposal for federal district-court original jurisdiction over state-diversity suits.

(§ 1251(b)(3) allows for original jurisdiction in the SCt, but not in district courts.)

Comments welcome!

Reposted by Stephen E. Sachs

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · Aug 7

If judges are play-acting as historians and getting the history wildly wrong, then actual historians have a duty to step in and set the record straight.

Sorry if that doesn’t stop the free fall of the profession, but we’re going to keep doing it all the same, thanks

Samuel Moyn @samuelmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 7

The history profession is in free fall, but its members can write liberal briefs that are cited in dissents to conservative decisions. Doesn’t seem like a great deal all told.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/u...

As the Supreme Court Focuses on the Past, Historians Turn to Advocacy

www.nytimes.com

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 7

An anti-Israel arson attack a few minutes from my childhood home. This is what endless demonization does.

www.timesofisrael.com/cars-torched...

Cars torched, ‘Death to the IDF’ graffitied in St. Louis; American IDF vet said target

Incident investigated as hate crime, one person reportedly detained; Jewish groups condemn vandalism, link it to unbridled rhetoric against Jews and Israel

www.timesofisrael.com

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 4

Note that, from behind the veil of ignorance, there’s no reason permitting this kind of conduct would help one party over the other

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 4

Could the U.S. House or Senate schedule a field hearing in Austin and subpoena them?

bsky.app/profile/chic...

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · Aug 3

Under threat of fines and arrest, Democratic members of the Texas House left for Chicago to deny the GOP a quorum needed to redraw congressional districts.

Texas House Democrats flee to Chicago to deny GOP’s congressional redistricting effort

Under threat of fines and arrest, Democratic members of the Texas House left for Chicago to deny the GOP a quorum needed to redraw congressional districts.

www.chicagotribune.com

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 4

Still, the houses have power to compel attendance, no?

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 3

(Note that if a state makes it a crime to conspire to do this, they can demand extradition under the Fugitives Clause of Article IV)

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 3

Merits of the bill aside, I’ve long thought Congress should criminalize the use of the channels and instrumentalities of interstate commerce to deprive a state body of a quorum.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...

Texas Democrats Leave State to Block G.O.P. From Redrawing Political Map

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Stephen E. Sachs

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · Aug 3

Under threat of fines and arrest, Democratic members of the Texas House left for Chicago to deny the GOP a quorum needed to redraw congressional districts.

Texas House Democrats flee to Chicago to deny GOP’s congressional redistricting effort

Under threat of fines and arrest, Democratic members of the Texas House left for Chicago to deny the GOP a quorum needed to redraw congressional districts.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Aug 1

August:

Stephen E. Sachs @stephenesachs.bsky.social · Jul 31

Worth re-reading: William Tecumseh Sherman to the city council of Atlanta: