Founded in 1963 by Fraenkel, the JFKI continues Fraenkel’s vision of an interdisciplinary approach to the United State’s political system and more broadly to questions of law, the state, and democracy. The lecture is designed to provide a forum for the discussion of Fraenkel’s ideas and how they related to today’s political and cultural developments. The inaugural lecture will be held by Prof. Brook Thomas (University of California, Irvine), who will speak on “Birthright Citizenship, Ltd.: The Controversy over Trumps’ Executive Order 14610.”

Following the lecture, the Ernst Fraenkel Dissertation Prize will be awarded for the first time. The prize is sponsored by the Foundation for Tolerance and Humanity and awarded annually for scholarship that “engage[s] in an exemplary manner with questions of democracy in the transatlantic sphere or from a broader comparative perspective.” The evening will conclude with a reception. Please confirm your attendance via the provided link.

You can find the registration form here. 

You can find more information here.