Constitution Day ft. John Witte, Jr.

John Witte Jr., the Woodruff Professor of Law at Emory University, will present a Constitution Day lecture on the origin and meaning of the First Amendment’s religious freedom protections. The following day, he will speak about recent Supreme Court decisions and their implications for religious liberty. Witte is the faculty director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory and a leading specialist in legal history, human rights, religious freedom, marriage and family law, and law and religion. This event is sponsored The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested.

About John Witte, Jr.

John Witte Jr., JD (Harvard); is Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law, McDonald Distinguished Professor of Religion, and Faculty Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. A leading expert in legal history, religious freedom, human rights, and family law, he has published over 300 articles, 18 journal symposia, and 45 books.

His major works include Law and Protestantism (2002), The Reformation of Rights (2007), Christianity and Law (2008), Religion and Human Rights (2012), No Establishment of Religion (2012), Christianity and Family Law (2017), and The Blessings of Liberty (2021). His writings have been translated into fifteen languages.

Professor Witte has delivered more than 350 public lectures worldwide, including prestigious series such as the Gifford Lectures (Aberdeen), the McDonald Lectures (Oxford), and the Jefferson Lectures (Berkeley).

He has led 20 major international projects on law, religion, and human rights, supported by $27 million in funding from foundations including Pew, Ford, Lilly, Luce, and McDonald. These initiatives have involved 1,600 scholars and produced 380 volumes and symposia.

He serves as Series Editor of Emory Studies in Law and Religion (Eerdmans) and Cambridge Studies in Law and Christianity (CUP), and co-edits the Journal of Law and Religion, Brill Research Perspectives on Law and Religion, and Colección Raíces del Derecho (Aranzadi).

Repeatedly honored for his teaching, Witte has been named “Most Outstanding Professor” twelve times by Emory Law students. He is married to theologian and mediator Eliza Ellison. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.

About The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse

Our center brings together scholars, thought leaders, and community members throughout South Carolina and beyond to address critical challenges facing our state and nation. Through events, publications and academic programs, we will help South Carolina students and community members develop the skills required for civic leadership.

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