B.A., University of Pittsburgh
J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Constitutional Law
Conflict of Laws
Professor Sedler has been at Wayne State University Law School since 1977. Prior to coming to Wayne Law, he was professor of law at the University of Kentucky. He has also held permanent or visiting appointments at Saint Louis University, the National University of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, the University of Iowa, Washington University of St. Louis and Cornell University. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Coif. Professor Sedler teaches courses in Constitutional Law and Conflict of Laws. He has published extensively in both fields and, in 1994, published a book titled “Constitutional Law — United States” in the Constitutional Law series of the International Encyclopedia of Laws for an international audience. The book was updated and republished in 2005 with the same title. Professor Sedler has made a number of trips to Russia, lecturing at Russian universities on American constitutional law, and publishing articles translated into Russian in Russian law journals comparing American and Russian constitutional law.
Professor Sedler has litigated a large number of important civil rights and civil liberties cases in Michigan and elsewhere. He is a frequent commentator on constitutional issues in the Detroit and national media. He was named a Gershenson Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Wayne Law for 1985-87, and served as the Gibbs Chair of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties from 2000-2005. He has received a number of awards, including the Detroit Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. Presidential Award in 1986 and the Bernard Gottfried Bill of Rights Day Award from the Metropolitan Detroit American Civil Liberties Union in 1994.
Professor Sedler is a member of the WSU Faculty of Scholars, the highest academic honor that can be voted for a faculty member by university colleagues. Professor Sedler served as President of the Academy during 2007-2008.
Constitutional Law - United States (Kluwer Law International) 2005This book is a part of the Constitutional Law Series of the International Encyclopedia of Laws. It was first published in 1994. The book seeks to explain the nature and operation of the American constitutional system to an international audience. The book contains the following chapters: The Constitution as the Only Source of Constitutional Law. Constitutional Interpretation: The Role of the Supreme Court. Constitutional Supremacy. Form of Government. The Legislative Power. The Executive Power. Separation of Powers and Conflicts Between Congress and the President. The Judiciary. Independent Non-Political Agencies. The American Federal System. State and Municipal Government. The Interaction Between Federal and State Power. The States and "National Unity." Citizenship and the Relevance of Citizenship. Fundamental Rights and Liberties. Constitutional Problems of Minorities. Judicial Control of Administrative Action. Legal Position of Aliens. War, Treaty and Foreign Affairs Powers. Taxing and Spending Powers. Emergency Laws. The Relationship Between Church and State.
Across State Lines. (American Bar Association, Section of General Practice) 1989In our highly mobile and global society, the conflict of laws has been transformed from a fairly esoteric doctrine to a fact of everyday legal practice. In this book, the author explains how the conflict of laws is applied in a variety of situations with which lawyers must deal. It summarizes the different approaches that are followed by the courts in conflicts cases and the likely outcomes in the various fact-law patterns that present themselves in actual cases.
The Constitution, the Courts, and the Common Law, 53 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 153, 2007.
The Constitutional Protection of Religious Freedom, WAYNE LAW REVIEW, forthcoming 2007.
The Louisville-Jefferson County School Desegregation Case: A Lawyer’s Retrospective, 105 REGISTER OF THE KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 3, 2007.
The Media and National Security, in Symposium, 53 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1025, 2007
Property and Speech, in Symposium, “The Rehnquist Court and the First Amendment,” 21 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF LAW AND POLICY 123 (2006).
Introduction to the Symposium: “Lay Beyond Borders: Jurisdiction in an Era of Globalization,” 51 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1065 (2005).
“The American Federal System and the War on Terrorism,” in LEGAL ISSUES IN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (American Bar Association, Section of State and Local Government Law) (2005)
The Constitutional Protection of Freedom of Speech in the United States and the Russian Federation: A Comparative Analysis. Translated into Russian and published in the STATE AND LAW: IMPORTANT ISSUES OF HISTORY AND THE PRESENT DAY, Mari State University Law Faculty, vol. 3, p. 170 (2004).
Implementing Brown: A Lawyer’s View, in Symposium: 50 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 835 (2004).
The Constitution Should Protect the Right to Same Sex Marriage, 49 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 975 (2004).
Affirmative Action, Race and the Constitution: From Bakke to Grutter, 92 KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL 219 (2003-2004).
American Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Interest Analysis Approach to Choice of Law, in Law and Justice in a Multistate World: Essays in Honor of Arthur T. Von Mehren (Nafziger & Symeonides, eds. 2002)
The Settled Nature of American Constitutional Law, 48 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1-180, Special Issue (2002)
Interest Analysis, "Multistate Policies,” and Considerations of Fairness in Conflicts Torts Cases, 37 WILLAMETTE LAW REVIEW 233 (2001)
The First Amendment and Land Use: An Overview; “Nude Dancing,” in Protecting Free Speech and Expression: The First Amendment and Land Use Law (Mandelker & Rubin eds., American Bar Association, Section of State and Local Government Law 2001)
The Louisiana Codification and Tort Rules of Choice of Law, 60 LOUISIANA LAW REVIEW 1331 (2000)
Choice of Law in Conflicts Torts Cases: A Third Restatement or Rules of Choice of Law? 75 INDIANA LAW JOURNAL 615 (2000)
The Role of "Intent" in Discrimination Analysis, in Non-Discrimination Law: Comparative Perspectives (Loenen & Rodrigues, eds.1999)
Abortion, Physician-Assisted Suicide and the Constitution: The View from Without and Within, 12 NOTRE DAME JOURNAL OF LAW, ETHICS & PUBLIC POLICY 529 (1998)
Understanding the Establishment Clause: The Perspective of Constitutional Litigation, 43 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1317 (1997)
Are Absolute Bans on Assisted Suicide Constitutional? I Say No, 72 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT-MERCY LAW REVIEW 725 (1995)
The Constitution and Personal Autonomy: The Lawyering Perspective, 11 THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW REVIEW 771 (1994)
Constitutional Challenges to Bans on "Assisted Suicide": The View From Without and Within, 21 HASTINGS CONSTITUTIONAL LAW QUARTERLY 777 (1994)
Constitutional Law - United States (1994), Update and Republication (2000), (2005), with Contemporary Revision of Text of United States Constitution (1995). Published as part of the Constitutional Law Series of the International Encyclopedia of Laws.
Interest Analysis, Party Expectations, and Judicial Method in Conflicts Torts Cases: Reflections on Cooney v. Osgood Machinery,Inc., 59 BROOKLYN LAW REVIEW 1323 (1994)
Interest Analysis, State Sovereignty, and Federally-Mandated Choice of Law in "Mass Tort" Cases, 56 ALBANY LAW REVIEW 855 (1993)
Continuity, Precedent and Choice of Law: A Reflective Response to Professor Hill, 38 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1419 (1992)
The Unconstitutionality of Campus Bans on "Racist Speech": The View from Without and Within, 53 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH LAW REVIEW 631 (1992)
Doe v. University of Michigan and Campus Bans on "Racist Speech": The View from Within, 37 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1325 (1991)
The First Amendment in Litigation: The "Law of the First Amendment," 48 WASHINGTON AND LEE LAW REVIEW 1 (1991)
The Constitution, Racial Preference, and the Supreme Court's Institutional Ambivalence: Reflections on Metro Broadcasting, 36 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1187 (1990)
Professor Juenger's Challenge to the Interest Analysis Approach to Choice of Law: An Appreciation and a Response, 23 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS LAW REVIEW 865 (1990)
The Case Against All Encompassing Federal Mass Tort Legislation: Sacrifice Without Gain (with A. Twerski), 73 MARQUETTE LAWREVIEW 76 (1989); State Choice of Law in Mass Tort Cases: A Response to "A View from the Legislature," (with A. Twerski), 73 MARQUETTE LAW REVIEW 625 (1990).
The Constitutional Protection of Freedom of Religion, Expression, and Association in Canada and the United States: A ComparativeAnalysis, 20 CASE-WESTERN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 577 (1988)
The Constitution, Racial Preference, and the Equal Participation Objective, in Slavery and Its Consequences: The Constitution, Equality and Race (Goldwin & Kaufman, eds. 1988)
The Profound Impact of Milliken v. Bradley, 33 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1693 (1987)
The Constitution and the Consequences of the Social History of Racism, 40 ARKANSAS LAW REVIEW 677 (1987)
Moffatt Hancock and the Conflict of Laws: An American-Canadian Perspective, 37 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LAW JOURNAL 62 (1987)
The Sum and Substance of Conflict of Laws (with Roger C. Cramton) (3d ed. 1987)
Federal and State Power over International Trade under the United States Constitution, in The Legal Framework for Canada-United States Trade (Irish & Carasco eds. 1987)
Legal Approaches to Resolving Problems of Racial Discrimination in Education and Employment in the United States, 7 URBAN LAW AND POLICY (North-Holland) 297 (1985)
The Negative Commerce Clause as a Restriction on State Regulation and Taxation: An Analysis in Terms of Constitutional Structure, 31 WAYNE L.REV. 885 (1985)
The State Constitutions and the Supplemental Protection of Individual Rights, 16 TOLEDO LAW REVIEW 465 (1985)
Constitutional Protection of Individual Rights in Canada: The Impact of the New Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 59 NOTRE DAME LAW REVIEW 1194 (1984)
Choice of Law in Michigan: Judicial Method and the Policy-Centered Conflict of Laws, 29 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1193 (1983)
Interest Analysis and Forum Preference in the Conflict of Laws: A Response to the "New Critics", 34 MERCER LAW REVIEW 593 (1983)
The Legitimacy Debate in Constitutional Adjudication: An Assessment and a Different Perspective, 44 OHIO STATE LAW JOURNAL 93 (1983)
Constitutional Limitations on Choice of Law: The Perspective of Constitutional Generalism, 10 HOFSTRA LAW REVIEW 59 (1981); reprinted in Italian, Limiti contituzionali alla scelta della legge applicabile: prospettiva di generalismo costituzionale, Rivista di diritto internazionale privato e processuale, no.2,p.241 (1983).
The Assertion of Constitutional Jus Tertii: A Substantive Approach, 70 CALIFORNIA LAW REVIEW 308 (1982)
Response to Conflict of Laws Dialogue, 32 HASTINGS LAW JOURNAL 1628 (1981)
The Constitution and School Desegregation: The Nature of the Substantive Right, 68 KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL 879 (1980)
Racial Preference and the Constitution: The Societal Interest in the Equal Participation Objective, 26 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 1227 (1980)
On Choice of Law and the Great Quest: A Critique of Special Multistate Solutions to Choice-of-Law Problems, 7 HOFSTRA LAW REVIEW 807 (1979)
Beyond Bakke: The Constitution and Redressing the Social History of Racism, 14 HARVARD CIVIL RIGHTS-CIVIL LIBERTIES LAW REVIEW 133 (1979)
Comments on Metropolitan Desegregation and the Courts, 10 URBAN LAW REVIEW 149 (1979)
Younger and Its Progeny: A Variation on the Theme Of Equity, Comity and Federalism, 9 TOLEDO LAW REVIEW 149 (1978)
Judicial Jurisdiction and Choice of Law in Interstate Accident Cases: The Implications of Shaffer v. Heitner, 1978 WASHINGTON UNIV. L.Q. 329
Choice of Law in Michigan - A Time to Go Modern, 24 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 829 (1978)
The Governmental Interest Approach to Choice of Law: An Analysis and a Reformulation, 25 UCLA L. REV. 181 (1977)
Rules of Choice of Law Versus Choice of Law Rules: Judicial Method in Conflicts Torts Cases, 44 TENN. L. REV. 975 (1977)
Standing and The Burger Court: An Analysis and Some Proposals for Legislative Reform, 30 RUTGERS LAW REVIEW 863 (1977)
Racial Preference, Reality and the Constitution: Bakke v. Regents of the University of California 17 SANTA CLARA LAW REVIEW 329 (1977)
Functionally Restrictive Substantive Rules in American Conflicts Law, 50 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LAW REVIEW 27 (1976)
The Summary Contempt Power and the Constitution: The View from Without and Within, 51 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW 34 (1976)
Metropolitan Desegregation in the Wake of Milliken - On Losing Big Battles and Winning Small Wars: The View Largely from Within, 1975 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW QUARTERLY 535
The Truly Disinterested Forum in the Conflict of Laws: Reflections on Ratliff v. Cooper Laboratories, 25 SOUTH CAROLINA LAW REVIEW 185 (1973)
Interstate Accidents and the Unprovided for Case: Reflections on Neumeier v. Kuehner, 1 HOFSTRA LAW REVIEW 125 (1973)
Judicial Method is "Alive and Well": The Kentucky Approach to Choice of Law in Interstate Automobile Accidents, 61 KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL 378 (1973)
The Legal Dimensions of Women's Liberation: An Overview, 47 INDIANA LAW JOURNAL 419 (1972)
Standing, Justiciability and All That: A Behavioral Analysis, 25 VANDERBILT LAW REVIEW 479 (1972)
The Contracts Provisions of the Restatement of Conflict of Laws (Second): An Analysis and a Critique, 72 COLUMBIA LAW REVIEW 279 (1972)
Dombrowski in the Wake of Younger: The View from Without and Within, 1972 WISCONSIN LAW REVIEW 1
The Procedural Defense in Selective Service Prosecutions: The View from Without and Within, 56 IOWA LAW REVIEW 1121 (1971)
The Territorial Imperative: Automobile Accidents and the Significance of a State Line: 9 DUQUESNE LAW REVIEW 394 (1971)
Characterization, Identification of the Problem Area and the Policy-Centered Conflict of Laws: An Exercise in Judicial Method, 2 RUTGERS-CAMDEN LAW REVIEW 8 (1970)
The Dombrowski-Type Suit as an Effective Weapon for Social Change: Reflections from Without and Within, (2 parts), 18 KANSAS LAW REVIEW 237, 629 (1970)
The Collateral Source Rule and Personal Injury Damages: The Irrelevant Principle and the Functional Approach (2 parts), 58 KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL 36, 161 (1969-70)
Law Reform in the Emerging Nations of Sub-Saharan Africa: Social Change and Development of the Modern Legal System, 13 ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW 195 (1968); reprinted in Law Reform: A Modern Perspective (1969).
Babcock v. Jackson in Kentucky: Judicial Method and the Policy-Centered Conflict of Laws, 56 KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL 27 (1967)
The Development of Legal Systems: The Ethiopian Experience, 53 IOWA LAW REVIEW 562 (1967)
Nationality, Domicile and the Personal Law in Ethiopia, 2 JOURNAL OF ETHIOPIAN LAW 161(1965)
Injunctive Relief and Personal Integrity, 9 ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY LAW JOURNAL 147 (1964)
The Chilot Jurisdiction of the Emperor of Ethiopia: A Legal Analysis in Historical and Comparative Perspective, 8 JOURNAL OF AFRICAN LAW 59 (1964)
The Realities of Attorney-Client Confidences (with J. Simeone), 24 OHIO STATE LAW JOURNAL 1 (1963)
School Segregation in the North and West: Legal Aspects, 7 ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY LAW JOURNAL 228 (1963)
Recognition of Foreign Judgments and Decrees, 23 MISSOURI LAW REVIEW 432 (1963)
Standing to Assert Constitutional Jus Tertii in the Supreme Court, 71 YALE LAW JOURNAL 599 (1962)
Conditional, Experimental and Substitutional Relief, 12 RUTGERS LAW REVIEW 639 (1962)
The Erie Outcome Test as a Guide to Substance and Procedure in the Conflict of Laws, 37 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW 813 (1962)
Rights of Defrauded Quiz Show Contestants, 6 WAYNE LAW REVIEW 225 (1960)
- September 28, 2009
Robert Sedler gave a presentation on September 23 at the Michigan Supreme Court 2009 Judicial Conference, which all Circuit Court and District Court judges are required to attend. Court of Appeals judges are encouraged to attend. Sedler reviewed constitutional decisions rendered during the last year by the United States Supreme Court and the Michigan Supreme Court. His presentation will be available on the Web site of the Michigan Judicial Institute, the educational arm of the Michigan Supreme Court. - May 4, 2009
Robert Sedler is celebrating 50 years since his graduation from law school. He, along with the other 50 year members of the bar, are being honored by the Michigan State Bar at a luncheon on May 11, 2009. Professor Sedler is also a member of the Kentucky State Bar, and along with a number of other members of the Kentucky Bar, he will be honored as a Senior Counselor at the Bar's Annual Meeting in Covington, Kentucky on June 12, 2009. - May 4, 2009
Robert Sedler will make a presentation to the Adult Learning Institute at Oakland Community College on May 6, 2009, on the topic, The Media and National Security. - May 4, 2009
Robert Sedler presented a series of lectures on American Constitutional Law at the Ural State Academy of Law in Ekaterinburg, Russia, from March 16 to March 20, 2009. - January 30, 2009
Robert Sedler made a presentation at a program sponsored by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan, "36 Years of Women's Choice," on Jan. 22, 2009. The day marked the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and Professor Sedler spoke on the legal aspects of reproductive choice. Before teaching at Wayne Law, Professor Sedler litigated the Kentucky version of Roe vs. Wade for the Kentucky ACLU. - January 30, 2009
Robert Sedler taped an interview with Greg Bowman at WWJ-AM on Roe v. Wade, the "Freedom of Choice" Act, no pending in Congress, and President Obama's power to lift a Bush restriction on providing federal funds for contraception to an international organization that also performs abortions. - November 18, 2008
Robert Sedler was a guest on the Warren Piece show, WJR-AM, discussing the constitutional role of the vice president. This was in response to some statements Sarah Palin made about what she would do as vice president. He gave his annual constitutional law update to the State of Michigan Court of Appeals on Nov. 13, 2008. On Nov. 13, he joined Detroit Free Press columnist Brian Dickerson for an Election 2008 Wrap Up for the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section. The program was held at the NCJW office in Southfield. - October 15, 2008
Robert Sedler did a presentation for the Humanities Center Brown Bag Colloquium Series, "Politics, Religion, and Constitutional Values" on Sept. 16.On Oct. 2, he gave a speech, "The Ball's in Your Court: The President's Influence on the Supreme Court and the Federal Courts," to the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section.He published, "Our Eighteenth Century Constitution: The Electoral College, and Congressional Reapportionment," 34 Ohio Northern Law Review 361 (2008). - June 27, 2008
Robert Sedler met with a delegation of 10 visitors from the Krygyz Republic on April 28, visiting the United States under the State Department's International Visitor Program. The Krygyz Republic, commonly referred to as Kyrgyzstan is a former Soviet Republic in Central Asia. The Krygyz people are Turkic and Moslem, and the Krygyz Republic is a secular state, with a Constitution that provides for separation of government and religion and religious freedom. The purpose of the delegation's visit to the United States is to study Religion in a Secular Society, and Professor Sedler met with the delegation for 90 minutes, discussing the constitutional protection of religious freedom in the United States. On Monday, April 28, Professor Sedler did an interview with Steven Clark on WXYZ-TV (Ch. 7) 7 p.m. news on the impact of the situation involving Reverend Jeremiah Wright on Sen. Barack Obama and the Democratic Party primary process. This was the evening after Reverend Wright spoke in Detroit at the annual NAACP Fight for Freedom Dinner at Cobo Hall. On Saturday, April 26, Professor Sedler did an interview on the Lou Perry Radio Show, WLBY-AM in Ann Arbor on Sen. John McCain's opposition in the Senate to amending the Equal Pay Act to provide that the time for bringing suit runs only after the pay inequality has been discovered, and so to overturn the United State's Supreme Court's 5-4 2007decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. He, along with Attorney Godfrey Dillard is representing the City of Detroit in a suit in regard to the forfeiture proceedings initiated by the Detroit City Council against Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Professor Sedler has been interviewed extensively by the Detroit media in regard to this case and has appeared on a large number of radio and television newscasts. - May 27, 2008
Robert Sedler published "The Media and National Security," 53 Wayne Law Review 1025 (2007).This article will also be put online on SSRN. His article, "The Constitution, the Courts and the Common Law," was recently listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list for LPP: Function of Legislatures. His article, "The Michigan Supreme Court Diminishes the Right to Trial by Jury in Civil Cases," was recently listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list for LSCP: Trial Practice. On April 13-14, he attended a meeting of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, of which he is a member, in New Orleans. On April 13, he did an interview from New Orleans with Paul W. Smith on WJR-FM about the case of United States v. Fieger. On April 16, he gave a speech at the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice at the University of Louisville on the subject of "School Desegregation in Louisville and the Meredith decision. (In the early '70's, while at the University of Kentucky, Professor Sedler was the lead counsel in the Louisville-Jefferson County desegregation case, which resulted in the desegregation of the merged city and county school systems.) While there, he also spoke to a combined Constitutional Law class at the law school on the subject of "Race and the Constitution." On May 1, he made a presentation on "Religion, Politics, and Constitutional Values" at Wayne State University's Society of Active Retirees (SOAR) program. On May 3, as President of the Wayne State University Academy of Scholars, he carried the Ceremonial Mace and led the Academic Procession at the Wayne State University 2008 Commencement. On May 17, he contributed to a discussion, "Should Detroit council try to oust mayor," on the Editorial Page of the Detroit News. His position was entitled "Let the People Decide," and argued that the council should not try to oust the Mayor." On May 20, he made a presentation on "Iraq and Vietnam: Some Comparisons and Some Differences" at the Adult Learning Institute of Oakland Community College/Elderhostel. - April 21, 2008
Robert Sedler paper entitled, "The Constitution, the Courts and the Common Law" was recently listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list for Political Institutions: Law & Courts. He published: "Essay: The Protection of Religious Freedom Under the American Constitution, 53 Wayne Law Review 817 (2007). Also put online on SSRN. He published online SSRN, "The Michigan Supreme Court Diminishes the Right to Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. He presented a paper, "The Constitution, Territoriality, and American Citizenship," at the 5th Annual Conference of the Center for the Study of Citizenship at Wayne State University, The Boundaries of Citizenship, on March 29, 2008. He wrote an op-ed entitled "The Mayor Still Considered Innocent" in the Detroit Free Press on March 25, 2008. He spoke to the Wayne State Law School Chapter of the Progressive Organization for Women's Rights on March 26, 2008, discussing "What If Roe Fell?" He served as a panelist to discuss "The Roots of Altruism and Moral Courage," at a Conference on "What Motivates Altruism" at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills on April 4, 2008. - March 11, 2008
Robert Sedler taped an interview with Chuck Stokes for Spotlight on the News. The other participant was Tom Cranmer, Channel 7's legal consultant and former President of the State Bar. The subject was legal issues in connection with the Kilpatrick text messaging scandal. Professor Sedler's appearance was a follow-up to his prior op-ed in The Detroit Free Press, "Unless convicted, the Mayor should not resign." - February 6, 2008
Robert Sedler wrote an article in the Wayne Law Review, Survey Issue, "The Constitution, the Courts and the Common Law." He also wrote an op-ed piece in the Detroit Free Press titled "Other points of view: Unless convicted, mayor should not resign" on Feb. 2, 2008. - January 14, 2008
Robert Sedler paper entitled, "The First Amendment Right to Silence" was recently listed on SSRN's Top Ten download list for LSPLCL: Rights & Liberties (Topic). To view the top ten list for the journal click on its name LSPLCL: Rights & Liberties (Topic) Top Ten and to view all the papers in the journals click on these links link(s) LSPLCL: Rights & Liberties (Topic) All Papers. From November 29 to December 4, he gave lectures in American Constitutional Law at the Ural State Law Academy Institute of Justice in Yekaterinburg, Russia (Yekaterinburg is the third largest city in Russia). The topics included the Constitution and American Foreign Policy, the American Federal System, The President and Congress, and the Constitutional Protection of Individual Rights. The lectures were in English to advanced students in the Institute of Justice. He also gave some lectures to other groups of students that were translated from English into Russia. He also went to a polling place to observe the December 2 election for the Russian Parliament and discussed this election and the results with Russian colleagues and students. - November 8, 2007
Robert Sedler published: The Louisville-Jefferson County School Desegregation Case: A Lawyer's Perspective, Vol. 105 The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society pp. 3-32 (2007). On Sept. 26, he presented a lecture, "Our 18th Century Constitution and the American Political System," to the Adult Learning Institute, an Elderhostel program at Oakland Community College. On Oct. 10, he presided over the Annual Installation Banquet of the Wayne State University of Scholars, of which I am the current President. On Oct. 11, he spoke at the Investiture of Michigan Court of Appeals Judge, Elizabeth Gleicher, a WSU Law graduate, class of 1979. On Oct. 14-15, he attended the Fall Meeting of the Social Action Commission of the Union for Reform Judaism, of which I am a member. On October 17, he presented a lecture, "Vietnam and Iraq: Some Comparisons and Some Differences, to the Society of Active Retirees (SOAR) a WSU-sponsored program for seniors. - February 21, 2007
Robert Sedler published Property and Speech, 21 Washington University Journal of Law and Policy 123 (2006), as part of the symposium issue, "The First Amendment and the Rehnquist Court." Professor Sedler delivered a speech, "A Liberal Jewish View of the Arab-Israeli Conflict," to the Wayne State University Jewish Law Students Association on January 24. He gave the same speech to the Temple Beth-El Brotherhood on January 21. He gave a CLE Presentation, "Constitutional Rights - Personal Autonomy and Equality; Constitutional Rights - Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion," to the Tau Epsilon Rho Law Fraternity Annual Convention in Sarasota, Florida on December 28 and 30, 2006. - November 13, 2006
Robert Sedler gave a videoconference presentation on November 1 to judges and staff of the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit, Troy, Lansing, and Grand Rapids on "Last Term's United States Supreme Court Decisions Relevant to the Work of the Court of Appeals." On November 2, Professor Sedler gave a speech, "The Supreme Court Today," to the Institute of Retired Professionals, Jewish Community Center, in Oak Park, Michigan. On November 9, Professor Sedler did a presentation, "Civil Liberties and the War on Terrorism," for the Wayne State University Society of Active Retirees Program, Oakland Center, Farmington Hills, Michigan. - September 18, 2006
Robert Sedler published The Supreme Court Will Not Overrule Roe v. Wade, 34 Hofstra L Rev 1207 (2006). He wrote a law review article introducing The Wayne Law Review's symposium issue, Law Beyond Borders: Jurisdiction in an Era of Globalization. The symposium was based on the program presented at the annual meeting of the AALS Section on Conflict of Laws in January, 2005, when he was Chair of the Section. In May, he presented a paper, The Constitution, the American Federal System and Disaster Management and Preparedness, at a Conference in New Orleans on Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Lawyers, Policy Makers and Executives. The Conference was sponsored by the Center for American and International Law and was co-sponsored by the International Municipal Lawyers Association, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Katrina Task Force, the American Bar Association Section on State and Local Government Law, and the American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. On August 29, he taped two sessions on the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (which would ban affirmative action in university admissions and hiring in Michigan) for Comcast. Those segments will be broadcast in September on the Laurel Hess Newsmakers show. He is vice-president and president-elect of the Wayne State University Academy of Scholars. On July 27, he spoke to the West Bloomfield Rotary Club on the Supreme Court's current term. The speech was taped for broadcast on the West Bloomfield cable system. - August 23, 2006
Robert Sedler attended Oxford Roundtable at Pembroke College in August; presented paper on constitutional right of parents to control the education of their children.
- Robert Sedler was quoted in a Nov. 2 article by the Associated Press on the Detroit city council election. Sedler commented on the effect that candidate Charles Pugh's recent financial problems would have on his chances to get elected. "I would put that in the same category as personal things that do not interfere with one's official duties," Sedler said. "They're not stealing money."
Read Article - Robert Sedler was a main source in a story in the Detroit Free Press about the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear an appeal by the State of Michigan seeking to reinstate the murder conviction of a black man tried by an all-white jury in Grand Rapids. Sedler said the case would likely turn more on the issue of state court rights than on the facts of the defendant's case.
- Robert Sedler explained in an op-ed for the Detroit Free Press why government rationing of health care would be unconstitutional. He wrote, "Government rationing of health care would be not only completely contrary to American values but also clearly unconstitutional." Sedler contends, however, that none of the plans before Congress would conceivably allow such things.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured on WDET's Detroit Today in a segment focusing on potential biases of the Michigan Supreme Court when deciding cases.
- Robert Sedler commented in a Detroit News story regarding a Warren prayer booth under fire by area atheists. Sedler suggested that because Warren offers the City Hall space to all groups, it does not appear to be violating the constitutional separation of church and state.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was interviewed by TV-7's Dave LewAllen regarding rumors that Gov. Jennifer Granholm may become a U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
- Robert Sedler was quoted in a Crain's Detroit Business article titled "Cobo plan relies on veto's validty." This article discusses Mayor Cockrel's veto over the Detroit City Council's decision against the transfer of Cobo's operations to a regional authority and the likelihood of both parties ending up in court.
Read Article - Robert Sedler commented in a story in the Detroit News on March 3, 2009, titled "Mayor vows Cobo veto:Threat to undo council vote may end up in court."
Read Article - Robert Sedler and his lecture on the President and Congress during Wayne Law's "Legal Perspectives on the Obama Administration" Symposium were highlighted in the Detroit Legal News on Jan. 22, 2009.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was a guest on the "Paul W. Smith Show" on Jan. 22, 2009, discussing why U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts administered the presidential oath of office a second time Wednesday because a word was said out of sequence. Sedler said it was appropriate for President Obama to take the oath twice, since the first attempt was not administered correctly.
- Robert Sedler was was quoted in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "In Howell, a teacher's email center of dispute" on Dec. 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler commented on the U.S. voting system and the Electoral College in the Detroit Free Press on Oct. 31, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was interviewed by Warren Pierce on WJR-AM on Oct. 26, 2008, regarding the constitutional role of the vice-president.
- Robert Sedler was quoted by the Associated Press regarding the Michigan Supreme Court race in a number of Michigan publications on Oct. 11, 12 and 13, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News in an article titled "Detroit council delays action on $205K in contracts" on Sept. 23, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Ben Schmitt in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Council panel to hold closed sessions on paying lawyers" on Sept. 12, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was one of three panelists who discussed the Kwame Kilpatrick situation and what's next for city of Detroit leadership on Sunday morning's Warren Pierce Show on WJR-AM on Sept. 7, 2008.
- Robert Sedler was quoted by Jackie Jones on BlackAmericaWeb.com in an article titled "For Detroit, Kilpatrick's Resignation Closes a Chapter, But the Story May Not End There" on Sept. 5, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Christine MacDonald and David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Mayor issued $315K in contracts since text scandal" on Aug. 29, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in an article by Zachary Gorchow in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Kilpatrick administration has requested $315,500 in legal service contracts" on Aug. 28, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Paul Egan in the Detroit News in an article titled "Experts: Halt of hearing unlikely" on Aug. 27, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar and Leonard N. Fleming in the Detroit News in an article titled "Mayor asks Governor to Delay Hearing" on Aug. 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Zachary Gorchow in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Authority to oust Detroit mayor shifts to office of governor" on Aug. 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Ben Schmitt, Zachary Gorchow and Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Council's bid to boot Kilpatrick doomed by vague charter" on Aug. 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar and Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News in an article titled "Judge halts council's effort to oust mayor Killpatrick" on Aug. 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Forfeiture hearings delayed by at least a day as judge ponders issue" on Aug. 14, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News in an article titled "Kilpatrick lawyers fight to stop his removal" on Aug. 8, 20008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Curt Guyette in the Metro Times in an article titled "Nightmare on Highbury Court, Part 2" on Aug 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by John Wisely in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Wayne County: Zoo Vote a Test Run For Mandate; Charter Requires 60% OK New Taxes" on Aug. 3, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by John Wisely in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Zoo vote a test run for mandate on new taxes in Wayne County" on Aug. 3, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Ben Schmitt in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Mayor is added to suit aimed at stopping his ouster" on July 24, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in an article by David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Mayor added as plaintiff to lawsuit challenging forfeiture process" on July 23, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Ben Schmitt in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Kilpatrick must be plaintiff in ouster fight" on July 22, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Decision due Wednesday in tangled mayoral lawyer case" on July 22, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Doug Guthrie and David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Worthy to alter criminal charge against Kilpatrick" on July 22, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Judge to decide on lawyer to represent the City of Detroit on Wednesday" on July 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyer seeks to add Detroit mayor as plaintiff in forfeiture case" on July 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Paul Egan in the Detroit News in an article titled "Mayor Kilpatrick builds huge defense team" on July 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Attorneys seek quick halt to Detroit council's ouster effort" on July 15, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Paul Egan in the Detroit News in an article titled "Mayor seeks to suppress texts" on July, 2, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in the Detroit News in an article titled "Granholm: No decision on Mayor Kilpatrick until September" on July 2, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Joe Swickard and Zachary Gorchow in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Lawyer to fight ouster efforts, pay or no pay" on July 2, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by the Detroit News in an article titled "Attorney for Detroit council rebuts mayor's Cold War defense" on July 2, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler Wrote an article that was featured in the Detroit News titled "Ruling upholds most gun control laws" on June 30, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Name mayor in suit vs. council, judge is asked" on June 28, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was interviewed by WWJ on Friday and by Warren Pierce of WJR on June 29, 2008, regarding the Supreme Court's decision on gun ownership.
- Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Hearing in Kilpatrick forfeiture case rescheduled" on June 28, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Detroit: Council lawyer questions suit; Goodman: Is city or mayor doing the suing?" on June 26, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "City mess underscores the need to fix charter" on June 26, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar in the Detroit News in an article titled "Motion to target lawyers in mayor's case" on June 26, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by David Josar and Leonard N. Fleming in the Detroit News in an article titled "Council delays Kilpatrick ouster hearings" on June 25, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Council attorney: Is it city or mayor challenging ouster?" on June 25, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by David Josar and Leonard N. Fleming in the Detroit News in an article titled "Mayor asks gov to delay ouster process" on June 24, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in the United Press International in an article titled "Detroit mayor, council battle over lawyers" on June 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Christine MacDonald and Robert Snell in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyers' pay may be denied" on June 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in an article by Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News in an article titled "Detroit council may refuse to pay legal tab for mayor's lawyers" on June 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was by Zachary Gorchow in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "City Council balks at legal overload" on June 21, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Denny Zimmer in the Detroit News in an article titled "Should council still try to remove Kilpatrick?" on June 20, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyers sue to halt council's attempt to oust Kilpatrick" on June 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Larry Dubin in the Detroit News in an article titled "Disqualify law department from representing Detroit" on June 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Christine MacDonald and Santiago Esparza in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyer sues to block Detroit council's removal of Mayor Kilpatrick" on June 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Larry Dubin in the Detroit News in an article titled "Disqualify law department from representing Detroit" on June 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyers sue to halt council's attempt to oust Kilpatrick" on June 19, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted Christine MacDonald and Santiago Esparza in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyer sues to block Detroit council's removal of Kilpatrick" on June 18, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by David Josar, Christine MacDonald and Leonard N. Fleming in the Detroit News in an article titled "Lawyer for city to file suit" on June 18, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Zachary Gorchow in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Mayor's office files suit to block his ouster" on June 18, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Paul Egan in the Detroit News in an article titled "Attorney hired to oppose City Council's effort to oust Mayor Kilpatrick" on June 12, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Paul Egan in the Detroit News in an article titled "Attorney hired to oppose City Council's effort to oust Mayor Kilpatrick" on June 12, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Paul Smith of WJR news radio in a radio interview titled "Robert Sedler explains to Paul W. Smith why he is getting involved in the case involving Mayor Kilpatrick" on June 12, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured on Channel 4 news in segment titled "Detroit Files Suit To Stop Council's Forfeiture Plans" on June 18, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in an Associated Press article titled "Suit expected in ouster attempt against Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick" on June 17, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Ben Schmitt and Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Council Rift Grows Over Pro-Kilpatrick Letter to Granholm; Link to Mayor's Aide Discovered; Kenyatta Furious" on June 13, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Ben Schmitt in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "City Council to review ouster hearing procedures today" on June 16, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Ben Schmitt in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "City hires lawyer to fight council's ouster of mayor" on June 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Crain's Detroit Business in an article titled "Professor to represent Detroit in mayor forfeiture hearings" on June 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by the United Press International in an article titled "Attorney hired to oppose mayor's removal" on June 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by WWJ 950 Detroit News Radio in an article titled "Law Prof to Represent City in Mayor Hearings" on June 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by the Associated Press in an article titled "Professor to represent Detroit in mayor forfeiture hearings" on June 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Paul A. Rosen in Michigan Lawyers Weekly in an article titled "Commentary: Michigan Supreme Court diminishes the right to jury trial in civil cases" on June 12, 2008. For details, click here. (Subscription Required)
- Robert Sedler was featured by Paul Egan in the Detroit News in an article titled "Attorney hired to oppose City Council's effort to oust Mayor Kilpatrick" on June 11, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler wrote an op-ed about the separation of church and state and religious freedom in the American constitutional system in the Detroit Free Press on May 30, 2008. The article was titled "Church shouldn't cross line on public officeholders."
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured by Paul A. Rosen in Michigan Lawyers Weekly in an article title "Commentary: Michigan Supreme Court diminishes the right to jury trial in civil cases" on May 12, 2008.
- Robert Sedler was interviewed about religion in politics and Rev. Jeremiah Wright's effect on Barack Obama's presidential campaign on WXYZ-TV, April 29, 2008.
- Robert Sedler wrote an op-ed piece in The Detroit Free Press on March 25, 2008, that highlighted why Mayor Kilpatrick should not resign in spite of the charges brought against him by the Wayne County prosecutor.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted in an article by Zachary Gorchow and Joe Swickard in The Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Council panel seeks mayor's resignation" on Feb. 29, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Zachary Gorchow in The Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Mayor texts dodge city rule" on Feb. 27, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by David Ashenfelter, Jim Schaefer and M.L. Elrick in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Appeals Court: Kilpatrick documents are public record: Council members want mayor to stop fight" on Feb. 14, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in an article by Jan Anderson in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "From Our Readers: Scandal Shouldn't be Surprise" on Feb. 10, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Ron Dzwonkowski in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Should Kilpatrick resign? Whose call?" on Feb. 10, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was featured in an article by the WXYZ News in an story titled "Untangling the Legal Web Surrounding the Kilpatrick Scandal" on Feb. 8, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by Sandra Svoboda in the Metro Times in an article titled "State of the gay nation" on Feb. 6, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler wrote an op-ed piece in the Detroit Free Press titled "Other points of view: Unless convicted, mayor should not resign" on Feb. 2, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted by David Ashenfelter and Jennifer Dixon in the Detroit Free Press in an article titled "Kilpatrick, Beatty may not have to pay back money: Suing them is unlikely to produce money" on Jan. 29, 2008.
Read Article - Robert Sedler Distinguished Professor Robert Sedler was quoted in The Detroit Free Press in an article by Robin Erb titled "Reid to leave WSU in spring" on Sept. 27, 2007.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted in a story by David Ashenfelter and Joe Swickard in the Detroit Free Press titled "Having few Detroiters on a jury is not that unusual" on Sept. 12, 2007.
Read Article - Robert Sedler was quoted in the Detroit Free Press and on msnbc.com regarding the City of Plymouth and its decision to reverse the ordinance that bans anyone from running for office who has not been a taxpaying property owner in the city for at least two years.
Read Article - Robert Sedler spoke about the importance of the states in the American constitutional systems and about some significant features of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. A picture of the event is available at
Read Article - Robert Sedler In an AP report on the Sixth Circuit decision in the surveillance case, Professor Robert Sedler gave the opinion that since the Bush administration has stopped warrantless surveillance, it is unlikely that the case will go any further.
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