THE REHNQUIST CENTER is pleased to announce the ninth annual National Conference of Constitutional Law Scholars. This year’s event will be back at the historic Hacienda del Sol Resort in Tucson on March 12–13, 2027. The March weather should be beautiful, and the resort has breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains, with many outdoor recreational opportunities nearby.
As in previous years, there will be a series of panels organized by subject matter moderated by Distinguished Commentators. The program will also include several break-out “lightning sessions” in which participants deliver short, no-paper presentations on early-stage projects followed by group discussion. The conference schedule will include plenty of time for informal conversation and outstanding food.
Samuel Bray (Chicago) will give a keynote lecture. Distinguished commentators for 2027 include:
- Rachel Bayefsky (Virginia)
- Katherine Mims Crocker (Cornell)
- Zachary Price (UC Law SF)
- Tara Grove (Texas)
- Karen Tani (Penn)
- Jud Campbell (Stanford)
- Adam Samaha (NYU)
CALL FOR PAPERS
Those wishing to present a paper for panel discussion should submit a 1- to 2-page abstract by Oct. 15, 2026. All constitutional law topics are welcome, and both emerging and established scholars are strongly encouraged to submit. Selected authors will be notified by Nov. 15, 2026. Selected papers will be presented in small panel sessions, organized by subject, with commentary by a distinguished senior scholar. Send an email with your paper proposal as an attachment to AZconlawpaper@outlook.com.
Those wishing to participate in a lightning session should submit a working title and 1- to 2-sentence topic description by Oct. 15, 2026. Selected participants will be notified by Nov. 15, 2026. Send an email with your lightning round proposal as an attachment to AZconlawlightning@outlook.com.
We welcome—and strongly encourage—concurrent submission of paper proposals and lightning-round topics. If you would like for your submission to be considered for either a regular panel or a lightning panel, please send your submission to both addresses.
The Rehnquist Center will provide breakfast and lunch for all registered conference participants and a Friday dinner and reception for panelists, lightning-round presenters, and commentators. Participants must cover travel and lodging costs. There is a conference registration fee of $250, which is waived for all panelists, lightning-round presenters, and commentators, as well as University of Arizona Law students and faculty. In addition, a limited number of fee waivers are available to those unable to attend the event otherwise. A non-waivable late fee of $50 will apply to all registrants beginning Feb. 26, 2027.
If you plan to attend the event without submitting a topic to present, you can register for it here.
CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
- Andrew Coan (Arizona)
- Rebecca Aviel (Denver)
- Shalev Roisman (Arizona)
- Oren Tamir (Arizona)
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Please direct logistical questions to Arizona Law’s events team.
Past Conferences
2026 Keynote - Mila Sohoni
2024 Keynote - Richard Re
2023 Keynote - Aziz Huq (University of Chicago)
2022 Keynote - Lee Epstein (Washington University in St. Louis)
2021 Keynote - Jamal Greene (Columbia)
2019 Keynote - David Straus (Chicago)
About the Rehnquist Center
The William H. Rehnquist Center on the Constitutional Structures of Government was established in 2006 at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. The non-partisan center honors the legacy of Chief Justice Rehnquist by encouraging public understanding of the structural constitutional themes that were integral to his jurisprudence: the separation of powers among the three branches of government, the balance of powers between the federal and state governments, and among sovereigns more generally, and judicial independence.