The Meese Prize for Excellence in Originalist Scholarship
Introducing The Meese Prize for Excellence in Originalist Scholarship
The Federalist Society is pleased to announce a $15,000 annual prize for new scholarship that makes a distinct and highly significant contribution to the field of originalism.
The Meese Prize is named for former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III in recognition of his critical role in promoting originalism. The Prize will be awarded to the best originalism article printed or accepted for publication during the prior calendar year, or the best originalism book published in the prior calendar year.
On July 9, 1985, then-Attorney General Meese gave a speech to the American Bar Association (“ABA”) where he explained that the Framers "chose their words carefully. ... The language they chose meant something. It is incumbent on the Court to determine what that meaning was." An originalist jurisprudence, Meese said, would be based on principles, and not "tainted by ideological predilection."
Forty years later, even its critics concede originalism is a dominant judicial philosophy. Just as Attorney General Meese did in 1985, we hope that the new Prize will promote and inspire new and groundbreaking originalist scholarship, regarding either the federal or state constitutions.
Each year, a panel consisting of leading experts—drawn from academia, constitutional litigation, and the judicial branch—will recommend the Meese Prize recipient, and the Federalist Society will announce the Meese Prize recipient at the National Lawyers Convention, usually held in November.
How to Nominate
The Federalist Society will accept nominations for the first annual Meese Prize until May 15, 2026 at [email protected]. While not required, any cover letter for the nomination should not exceed two pages.
The Meese Prize is made possible by the Federalist Society’s Co-Chairman and Co-Founder, Professor Steven G. Calabresi (the Clayton J. & Henry R. Barber Professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law), who served as an advisor to then-Attorney General Meese. Professor Calabresi is also the co-author of The Meese Revolution: The Making of a Constitutional Moment, which explores Meese’s crucial role in the rise of constitutional originalism.