The law of American state constitutions

"Professor Williams work is more than a classroom primer. From beginning to end it is a significant reprise of the development of democratic government, particularly of democratic state government. It is a work where the usual background material of the introductory apparatus provides a road map through highly significant historical and analytical material from the founding decade of the country to the very present of the new judicial federalism whichrecognizes a new set of state constitutional rights." --Professor Frank P. Grad, J.P. Chamberlain Professor Emeritus of Legislation, Columbia Law School"A most welcome, important text! Professor Williams' own decades of research and close involvement in the developing field of state constitutional law enable him to illuminate the pathways back in history, and forward into the future, magnificently. This is both a compelling record of history being made, and an absolutely invaluable reference." -Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of the State of New York (Retired)"For a generation, Bob Williams has set the agenda for legal scholarship in state constitutional law. In this book, Williams pulls together a career's worth of reflection and study into a definitive account of what state constitutions are, how they work, and how courts should interpret them. The book is exactly what we have come to expect from Bob Williams: comprehensive, meticulously researched, and persuasively argued." -James A. Gardner, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Joseph W. Belluck and Laura L. Aswad Professor of Civil Justice State University of New York, University at Buffalo School of Law"In this book, Robert Williams undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the origin and evolution of American state constitutions, the notable ways they differ from the federal Constitution, and the various issues judges encounter in interpreting the wide range of structural provisions, procedural limitations, and guarantees of individual liberty enshrined in these foundational documents." -John Dinan, Associate Professor, Wake Forest University and author of The American State Constitutional Tradition"The most significant constitutional development of recent decades has been the resuscitation of litigation and scholarship centered on provisions in state constitutions. There has been no more thoughtful analyst of these developments than Professor Robert Williams. Although he disclaims laying down any grand theory for the field, Bob Williams has now given us the most valuable single work in the modern canon. No one since Thomas Cooley has done so much toenrich the debate." -Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, Indiana Supreme Court"This book will enrich the understanding of any practitioner who seeks deeper knowledge of any constitution, state or federal." -John Vail, Vice President and Sr. Litigation counsel, Center for Constitutional Litigation, Washington, D.C."Robert Williams is a long-time and very distinguished laborer in the field of state constitutional law - really, both a pioneer and a leader. His book looks, at first glance, to be a grand summing up, an attempt at magisterial synthesis. But it is in fact much better than that." -Pat Gudridge, Constitutional Law Jotwell"This book explores subnational statehood as an American legal concept like no other resource with which I'm familiar. And as this struggle continues both here and abroad, this book will be an asset for years to come." - James Colburn, Concurring Opinions"There is no better guide to those constitutions, and to that broader conception of what American constitutional law is, than Bob Williams...it will enrich the understanding of any practitioner who seeks deeper knowledge of any constitution, state or federal." --John Vail Trial Magazine"The book provides a coherent exposition of what new judicial federalism means and it draws important parallels and contrasts to litigation under the federal constitution...Overall, William's THE LAW OF AMERICAN STATE CONSTITUTIONS is an excellent book deserving of a read by public law scholars and of use in the classroom." --David Schultz, School of Business, Hamline University Law and Politics Book Review Blog"Williams has written a thoroughly researched book that exceeds expectations and would benefit different audiences. For the law student, this book provides a deeper awareness of constitutional law. For the practicing attorney or judicial officer, the text is an easy read that avoids academic forays into speculative queries, and provides provocative approaches into constitutional analysis and interpretation that may not be found in a practitioner's own state.For the student of American history, this book is a treasure." --Jaime R. Roman, Superior Court Judge, Sacramento, California The Colorado Lawyer Read more...