Justice Elena Kagan Remembers Professor Richard Fallon and His Lasting Influence

Justice Elena Kagan honored the memory of Professor Richard Fallon, recalling his early years teaching Federal Courts at Harvard Law School when she was a student. She emphasized his combination of kindness and exacting expectations, which challenged students to think deeply about legal doctrines. Fallon’s practice of involving students like Carol Steiker in reviewing his drafts, including the article that became "A Constructivist Coherence Theory of Constitutional Interpretation," left a lasting impact on her scholarly development.

Kagan noted that many alumni attribute their professional confidence and success to Fallon's mentorship, personal engagement, and willingness to edit early drafts. She highlighted his partnership with colleague Dan Meltzer as a model of academic collaboration. Finally, Kagan praised Fallon's scholarly rigor, his belief that law requires both principled analysis and moral consideration, and his courteous yet forceful engagement with dissenting viewpoints.