Lyon College to host Constitution Day lecture Wednesday

Lyon College will mark Constitution Day with a lecture examining whether constitutional protections extend beyond those explicitly written in the nation’s founding document.

Joshua M. Silverstein, a professor of law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, will deliver the lecture “Does the Constitution Protect Rights Beyond Those Listed in the Text?” on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at noon in the Nucor Auditorium of the Lyon Business and Economics Building, 2300 Highland Road.

The event is free and open to the public.

Silverstein, who teaches business law, constitutional law, and legal philosophy, has received multiple teaching honors, including UA Little Rock’s campus-wide Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching. His research focuses on contract law, bankruptcy, and assessment practices in legal education, and his work has been cited by courts and scholars nationwide, including the United States Supreme Court.

A magna cum laude graduate of New York University School of Law, Silverstein clerked for the Hon. Suzanne B. Conlon of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before practicing commercial litigation at Mayer Brown and Freeborn and Peters in Chicago. His practice concentrated on products liability, bankruptcy, antitrust, and business torts.

“Constitution Day is a meaningful opportunity for our students and community to explore the enduring impact of our nation’s founding document,” said Anthony Grafton, executive vice president and provost at Lyon College. “We are excited to host Professor Silverstein, whose scholarship and experience offer valuable insights into how the Constitution shapes rights and responsibilities beyond the text itself.”

Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. Colleges and universities nationwide observe the day with educational programming to promote civic learning and engagement.

Image via Lyon College