Laurence H. Tribe

The difficulty of amending the Constitution does not mean that it is a flawed and outdated relic of a distant past.

Over decades, and through harrowing experiences, my family held on to this bit of cloth as a reminder of everything they believed in—and were running toward.

The only question is whether American citizens today can uphold that commitment.

Critics of the Supreme Court think it has lost its claim to legitimacy. But proposals for reforming it must strike a balance with preserving its independence.

Traditional Supreme Court precedent may depend too much on substantive due process to safeguard human rights.