Yale constitutional law scholar Akhil Reed Amar to deliver Bellwood lecture in Moscow Oct. 26

MOSCOW, Idaho — Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, will deliver the 2026 Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture for the University of Idaho College of Law on Monday, Oct. 26, in Moscow.

The free public event will be held at the Bruce M. Pitman Center International Ballroom on the U of I campus in Moscow. Welcome and introductions begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by the lecture at 4 p.m. Seating is limited, and advance registration is requested at uidaho.cventevents.com/EAwxgD.

Amar, one of the nation’s leading constitutional scholars, will present “From ‘Created Equal’ to ‘Born Equal’ — with Special Emphasis on America’s Northwest and the Recent Birthright Citizenship Case.” Drawing on his acclaimed book “Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840-1920,” Amar will explore the evolution of American constitutional equality from the nation’s founding and the abolitionist movement through the transformative amendments of the Civil War and Reconstruction era and into today’s debate over birthright citizenship.

“The Bellwood Memorial Lecture is an important part of the University of Idaho College of Law’s tradition of bringing distinguished voices in law and public service to Idaho for thoughtful discussion of issues that matter,” said Brian Kane, dean of the College of Law. “We are especially pleased to welcome Professor Amar to Idaho Law. His scholarship connects the history of our Constitution to some of the most consequential questions being debated today and his discussion of equality and birthright citizenship comes at a particularly timely moment.”

Amar has taught constitutional law at Yale University since 1985. He is the author of several books on constitutional law and history, including “America’s Constitution: A Biography, The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840” and “Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840-1920.” “Born Equal” examines the constitutional transformation of the United States between 1840 and 1920, including the adoption of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments.

The Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture is the College of Law’s premier lecture series. Since its establishment in 1987 through a gift from Judge Sherman J. Bellwood, the series has brought distinguished legal minds to Idaho, including former U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, current Chief Justice John Roberts, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson. The lecture gives students and the public an opportunity to engage directly with prominent legal voices.

Bellwood, an Idaho native and U of I graduate, was a longtime Idaho attorney and district court judge who was committed to the legal profession and legal education. He established the Bellwood Lectures through an endowment to enable the College of Law to bring legal experts to Idaho to discuss the law. The Bellwood endowment remains the largest endowed lectureship at U of I.

No state-appropriated funds or student fees are used to support the lecture, which is funded by the Bellwood endowment.

Learn more about the College of Law’s Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture Series: uidaho.edu/law/news-events/bellwood-lecture.

Media contact

Chris Smith
College of Law Communications and Marketing Manager
208-364-4582
christophersm@uidaho.edu