Stephen E. Sachs, Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, spoke at Dartmouth College on August 5, 2025, at an event hosted by the university’s chapter of the Federalist Society. The discussion centered on recent Supreme Court decisions, particularly those involving birthright citizenship, and included a moderated Q&A session on broader constitutional issues.
Professor Sachs focused on the implications of Trump v. CASA, Inc., a Supreme Court decision that has generated national debate. The case involved the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment and whether birthright citizenship applies to children of undocumented immigrants and individuals with temporary status. Sachs examined how the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” has been historically and legally understood, and how its interpretation has shifted in the current legal landscape.
The event also explored the constitutional limits of nationwide injunctions and raised broader questions about the relationship between law and politics. Sachs emphasized that while judicial decisions may have political consequences, the role of the Supreme Court is to apply settled legal principles until the law itself changes.
Sachs, whose scholarship focuses on civil procedure, constitutional law, and legal theory, is an elected member of the American Law Institute. He is also a founding member of the Academic Freedom Alliance and faculty advisor to Harvard’s chapter of the Federalist Society.
The event was moderated by Dartmouth student Roger Friedlander and attended by members of both the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society. Participants described the discussion as informative and thought-provoking, touching on core constitutional principles and the evolving public perception of the Supreme Court.