Century Quote by Diane Wood
“It is time... to end the long-standing and unproductive methodological debate over 'originalism' versus 'dynamism' or 'evolution' and focus instead on how, as a substantive matter, we should interpret the Constitution in the twenty-first century, and what it has to say on questions unimaginable to our eighteenth-century Framers.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Judicial Conference, 2005
Advocates moving beyond originalist vs. dynamic debates to interpret the Constitution for modern issues.
In simple terms: Focus on contemporary constitutional meaning.
Embrace modern interpretation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- court rulings
- legislative drafting
- public policy
- academic debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How should courts balance tradition and change?
- What modern issues challenge old frameworks?
May overlook historical context.