Lecture
Exploring Challenges to U.S. Constitutional Norms
- Date
- Thursday 5 June 2025
- Time
- Series
- Diplomacy and Global Affairs Research Seminar Series 2025
- Location
-
Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague - Room
- 3.48
About the event
Across the globe now, growing attention is being paid to the state of American democracy, with many wondering whether the U.S. may be facing a constitutional inflection point. This question has far-reaching implications, not just for Americans, but for democracies everywhere.
Legal scholar Professor Kim Wehle will explore the key developments currently testing the resilience of the U.S. Constitution. She will also examine the historical context that led to this moment and the remaining mechanisms available to uphold democratic norms. We invite you to join us for this timely and essential discussion on the future of constitutional governance.
About the speaker
Kimberly Wehle is a legal scholar, author, and commentator known for making complex legal and constitutional issues accessible to the public. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Associate Independent Counsel in the Whitewater Investigation, Wehle is a leading voice on democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. She has authored four books, including How to Read The Constitution—and Why, and How to Think Like a Lawyer—and Why and Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why, and serves as a legal contributor for ABC News, offering expert analysis on major legal and political developments.
Currently a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Wehle began her career clerking for the Hon. Charles R. Richey of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before joining the Federal Trade Commission and later working on the Whitewater Investigation alongside Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. She went on to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., arguing cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals. She has taught at several prestigious law schools, and in 2025, she was selected as a Fulbright Scholar at Leiden University in the Netherlands, where she is researching global constitutional norms.
Wehle is a prominent legal analyst, appearing on major news networks including CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS NewsHour. Her expert commentary on constitutional issues, impeachment, and the rule of law has been featured in publications like The Atlantic, Politico, and The Guardian. She also authors the Simple Politics newsletter, where she breaks down complex legal topics for a general audience. Through her work, Wehle continues to bridge the gap between legal scholarship and public understanding of democracy and governanc.
About the seminars
The Diplomacy and Global Affairs (DGA) Research Seminar is a series launched by the Research Group on Diplomacy and Global Affairs at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs. The seminars of internationally acknowledged guest researchers and faculty members deal with current research topics in diplomacy, international relations, global affairs, and political economy broadly conceived and target a broad audience through their interdisciplinary focus.
If you have any questions, please contact Leo Ranieri.