The Trials of Allegiance: What history can tell us about impeachment and other ConLaw issues
Dec 10, 2019·Tap to summarize
Carlton F.W. Larson is a professor of constitutional and Anglo-American law at UC Davis School of Law and has a new book The Trials of Allegiance: Treason, Juries, and the American Revolution. The book looks at the pre-Constitution wrestling with the law among the early Americans, including how to address treason of those accused of acting against the British Crown, in the colonies, and the fledgling republic.Larson began writing the book in 2010 which included work from his undergraduate thesis while at Harvard and had no way to envision what is literally playing out at this time. We talk about the constitutional words of impeachment, what the framers would have thought about what is happening today, and what may happen in the days ahead. Beyond the current impeachment, we contrast it with that of President Clinton, and talk about the Second Amendment guns cases, homelessness, and the Chief Justice John Roberts.After the first forty-five minutes, we proceed with audience Q&A. Based on seating, not all audience questions are audible but are relatively short. I've left them in because Professor Larson's answers appropriately reflect the questioner's query.
