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 featured the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of Arkansas, Utah, and Wisconsin, as well as a tribute to the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, Judith S. Kaye.  Last year, the entire New York Court of Appeals came to tell of their favorite judge in the court's history.

Last year, the Symposium was held on Friday, March 6, 2009.  Entitled "Tough Call: State High Court Judges on Making Their Hardest Decisions," the panel included Acting Chief Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Associate Justice (retired) John M. Greaney of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Senior Associate Justice Flemming L. Norcott, Jr. of the Connecticut Supreme Court, and Associate Judge Robert S. Smith of the New York Court of Appeals.  A podcast of the event is available HERE.

On March 4, 2010, the Albany Law Review will host its fourth annual Symposium on Wrongful Convictions: Understanding and Addressing Criminal Injustice.  As opening speaker and moderator, New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman will lead a discussion on the origins of and modern solutions to wrongful convictions.  This timely event follows Chief Judge Lippman's recent appointment of a permanent New York State task force on wrongful convictions.  For additional information and a current list of speakers, please click HERE.

Publishing Opportunity

The Albany Law Review is presently accepting article submissions for its State Constitutional Commentary, on topics related to the upcoming Symposium entitled "Wrongful Convictions: Understanding and Addressing Criminal Injustice."  The deadline for submission is March 15, 2010.  More information can be found by clicking HERE.

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.