A conversation with Justice Stephen Breyer

On June 5, the newly launched Katzmann Initiative on Improving Interbranch Relations and Government at Brookings, hosted its inaugural event with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Robert Allen Katzmann, a Brookings senior fellow for 18 years and later the chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, worked to promote effective government and interbranch relations, core functions of the Katzmann Initiative. 

Justice Breyer, a long-time friend of Judge Katzmann, reflected on Katzmann’s legacy and discussed Breyer’s recently published book, “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism.” Joining him in this discussion was Brian Richardson, associate professor of law and the Jia Jonathan Zhu and Ruyin Ruby Ye sesquicentennial faculty fellow at Cornell Law School. Professor Richardson served as a law clerk for Justice Breyer and Judge Katzmann. 

Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing [email protected] or via X (formerly Twitter) at @BrookingsGov by using #BrookingsBreyer.