LawTalk Ep. 60 - From Unwritten Law to Written Constitutions: The Evolution of Fundamental Rights in the Western Legal Tradition

LawTalk Episode 60 - From Unwritten Law to Written Constitutions: The Evolution of Fundamental Rights in the Western Legal Tradition Welcome to LawTalk, a podcast series produced by the University of Minnesota Law School featuring events, webinars, and panel discussions about diverse topics at the intersection of law, policy, and education. This episode, From Unwritten Law to Written Constitutions: The Evolution of Fundamental Rights in the Western Legal Tradition, explores the foundations of modern rights and constitutionalism through a dual lens of history and drafting. Professor Ryan Greenwood examines the evolution of the English constitutional tradition—symbolized by Magna Carta and other pivotal documents—that provided the DNA for the American innovation of a federal constitution. Building on this context, Professor Sam Merchant investigates the lead-up to the U.S. Constitution and the specific context of its drafting and amendments. This event was recorded on April 22, 2026, and was part of the 2026 Spring Alumni Week. You can watch the entire event recording on the Minnesota Law YouTube channel. (https://youtu.be/LWxnprb16TM?si=LV8Xx-ALAgV5KV_h) A transcript of this episode is available here: z.umn.edu/Ep60Transcript Learn more about the University of Minnesota Law School by visiting law.umn.edu