Kermit Roosevelt III

Kermit Roosevelt III is an American legal scholar, author, and professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. A great-great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, he is a prominent constitutional law expert known for his work on conflict of laws, judicial review, and the historical legacy of the Reconstruction era. His scholarship and public commentary often address the Supreme Court, constitutional interpretation, and issues of racial justice.

Early life and education

Born in Washington, D.C., he is a descendant of the prominent Roosevelt family, with his great-grandfather being the explorer Kermit Roosevelt and his grandfather the CIA officer Kermit Roosevelt Jr.. He attended the prestigious Harvard University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued his legal education at Yale Law School, earning a Juris Doctor degree. During his time at Yale University, he served as an editor for the Yale Law Journal, a position that signaled his early engagement with high-level legal scholarship.

Career

After graduating from Yale Law School, he clerked for Judge Stephen F. Williams on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He then entered private practice, working as an attorney at the law firm Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.. In 2004, he joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he has taught courses in constitutional law, conflict of laws, and federal courts. He has also been a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and a fellow at the Princeton University Program in Law and Public Affairs.

Legal scholarship

His scholarly work is centered on American constitutional theory and doctrine. He is a leading authority on conflict of laws, authoring a major casebook and numerous articles on the subject. His constitutional scholarship critically examines the power of judicial review and the methods of constitutional interpretation, often challenging originalist approaches championed by figures like Justice Antonin Scalia. His notable books include *The Myth of Judicial Activism* and *Conflict of Laws*. His research frequently engages with the history of the Fourteenth Amendment and the legal aftermath of the American Civil War, arguing for a living constitutionalist perspective that addresses modern issues of equality.

Notable cases and legal work

Beyond academia, he has participated in significant legal proceedings, often authoring or co-authoring influential amicus curiae briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. He provided expert analysis and commentary during the confirmation hearings for justices like Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. His legal commentary is regularly featured in major media outlets such as *The New York Times*, *The Washington Post*, and on networks like CNN. He has also been involved in litigation and advocacy concerning voting rights and the historical interpretation of the Reconstruction Amendments.

Personal life

He is married to legal scholar Nomi Stolzenberg, a professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. The couple has two children. He maintains a connection to his family's legacy, occasionally writing and speaking about the historical impact of Theodore Roosevelt and the Roosevelt family in American politics. An avid writer, he has also authored a historical novel, *Allegiance*, which explores legal and moral dilemmas within the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration during World War II.

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:American legal scholars Category:University of Pennsylvania faculty Category:Roosevelt family