State Constitutional Commentary
The State Constitutional Commentary is an annual issue of the Albany Law Review dedicated to the examination of state constitutional law in its broadest sense, from the widest possible range of perspectives. "State constitutional law" itself is meant to encompass all varieties of law -- common law, statutes, constitutional provisions, court decisions, etc. -- that fall within the expanse often referred to simply as public law. Accordingly, the State Constitutional Commentary is intended as a forum for exploring all facets of judicial federalism, the role of state courts, state adjudication, issues of rights and liberties confronting state governments and their courts, and the host of other issues related to state constitutional law. It also includes interdisciplinary examinations of state courts, state constitutional law, and state constitutional adjudication.
Annual Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke State Constitutional Commentary Symposium
In the Spring of 2007, the Albany Law Review began a new annual tradition of honoring former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Lawrence H. Cooke by holding the State Constitutional Commentary Symposium in his name. In its inaugural year, the Symposium, entitled The Reemergence of State Constitutional Law and the State High Courts in the 21st Century: Re-examining the Emergence of State Constitutional Law," featured the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of Arkansas and Wisconsin, as well as a tribute to the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Judith S. Kaye.
This year, the Annual Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke State Constitutional Commentary Symposium, entitled "Judges on Judges: The New York Court of Appeals Judges' Own Favorites in Court History," featured each of the current members of the New York Court of Appeals speaking about their favorite Judges in the Court's storied history. Moderated by former Court of Appeals Judge Albert M. Rosenblatt, the Judges chose to speak about Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke (Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye), Judge Vito J. Titone (Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick), Judge Frances Bergan (Judge Victoria A. Graffeo), Chief Judge John T. Loughran (Judge Susan Phillips Read), Chief Judge Cuthbert Pound (Judge Robert S. Smith), Judge Matthew J. Jasen (Judge Eugene F. Pigott Jr.), and Judge Harold A. Stevens (Judge Theodore T. Jones Jr.).
Organization and History
The Albany Law Review's Editorial Board is assisted in the editing and publishing of the State Constitutional Commentary by a professional board of jurists and scholars from law and law related fields. Professor Vincent Martin Bonventre, Faculty Advisor of the Albany Law Review, is the founder and Editor of State Constitutional Commentary. Former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Stanley G. Feldman currently serves as the Chair of the Professional Board.
The State Constitutional Commentary is the successor to State Constitutional Commentaries & Notes, previously published under the direction of Professor Emeritus Stanley H. Friedelbaum at Rutgers University. Professor Friedelbaum is a frequent contributor and serves as a member of the Professional Board.
