Toward a Jurismythos of Thomas Jefferson: The Supreme Court's Use and Abuse of America's Most Controversial Founder

22 Pages Posted: 11 Jun 2015 Last revised: 12 Jun 2015

Date Written: June 9, 2015

Abstract

This chapter explores the jurismythos of Thomas Jefferson, a term I have coined to describe the ways in which Supreme Court justices have engaged in myth-making about him in the service of their jurisprudence. I begin by developing a conception of jurismythos and identify three of its key characteristics. I then examine two instances of judicial myth-making: Felix Frankfurter's use of Thomas Jefferson in his Gobitis and Barnette decisions (mandatory flag salutes in public school), and Clarence Thomas's use (or lack thereof) of Jefferson in his Mitchell and Zelman decisions (public aid and vouchers supporting religious schools). I conclude by looking at what is lost, and gained, when we invoke Jefferson in contemporary social problems.

Keywords: originalism, legal history, Thomas Jefferson, educational law, educational history, jurismythos, flag salute, voucher, Felix Frankfurter, Clarence Thomas

Suggested Citation

Justice, Benjamin, Toward a Jurismythos of Thomas Jefferson: The Supreme Court's Use and Abuse of America's Most Controversial Founder (June 9, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2616400 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2616400

Benjamin Justice (Contact Author)

Rutgers University ( email )

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