Is God or the Majority the Source of Your Rights as an American? The Constitutional Battle between Originalism and the Progressivism
Lifelong Learning | Registration opens 5/1/2025 9:00 AM EDT
We will discuss the birth of your individual rights as an American, through the Declaration and the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights made part of the Pennsylvania and Virginia Constitution. We will discuss the shift from the "Divine Right of Kings" to some form of citizen government through the "Enlightenment Period," moving toward the peoples' republics and democracies, and the means of transferring such power either by the musket and bayonet or by peaceful transfer. Moving forward, we will discuss the current conflict as to the meaning of written words describing your rights among the "Originalists" (what the written words mean) and the "Progressives" (what the words should mean in modern times).
The ultimate question will be: Does anyone have the justifiable power or moral authority to change, alter or eliminate your fundamental rights by any means that they choose, including a majority vote or a judicial ruling?
T. Lawrence Palmer
T. Lawrence Palmer is a distinguished attorney, educator, and military veteran with over six decades of service in law and public service. He graduated from Duquesne University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Political Science, and Philosophy, before going on to earn his LL.B. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1964, where he graduated first in his class and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. After further studies at the University of Wisconsin School of Law, Palmer's academic career was interrupted when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army in 1965. He completed the Infantry Officers Course and Army Intelligence School before being honorably discharged as a Captain in 1967.
Palmer began his legal career in 1967, practicing civil trial law in state and federal courts across Pennsylvania and numerous other jurisdictions for over 50 years. He was appointed Senior Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 2000, a role he held until 2020. In addition to his legal career, Palmer served as an Adjunct Professor at LaRoche University from 2020 to 2024, sharing his extensive knowledge with law students. Throughout his career, Palmer has been recognized for his leadership, dedication to justice, and commitment to education, leaving a lasting impact on the legal community.