Remember The Ladies – Tom Campbell

Becoming America: The Constitutional Convention of 1787

Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court. Among issues facing the courts over many decades are rights and roles of women. Although the Constitution makes no distinction between men and women, state law often made such distinction and many were challenged in federal courts. Diving deep into this controversial topic, Judge Jim Gray, Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham, and Bijan Kian sit down with former Congressman and law school professor, Tom Campbell. They tackle the changing roles and political rights of women over time, how court decisions impacted those changes, and the purpose of the Nineteenth Amendment. Dr. Campbell also offers general insights about the judiciary as discussed in his book, Separation of Powers in Practice, including thoughts about judicial restraint and judicial activism. The conflict between these two theories of how judges should interpret the Constitution prompts a discussion about controversial Supreme Court decisions such as Roe v. Wade and how Supreme Court nominees are evaluated.