Center Researchers Publish Essay on the Communication Legacy of Justice Scalia’s Republican Style

Center scholars published an essay in the Communication Law Review that reflected on the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The scholars examine both the style and results of Justice Scalia in taking his textualist-originalist philosophy to the public. Consistent with a republican rhetorical style (not to be confused with Republican Party style), the authors explain how Justice Scalia often found expression through the jeremiad and consistently produced conservative results while inhibiting progressive possibilities. Drawing on the work of Samuel Kernell, the authors argue that “going public” was Justice Scalia’s chosen method to have influence beyond the Supreme Court itself by working to persuade the public and lawmakers alike about how the law should be interpreted. For a link to the full essay, visit http://commlawreview.org/Archives/CLRv16i2/CLRv16i2_Scalia_Asenas_Johnson.pdf