Last updated on: 8/22/2007 | Author: ProCon.org

Steven H. Shiffrin, JD Biography

Title:
Professor of Law at Cornell Law School
Position:
Con to the question "Should the Words “under God” Be in the US Pledge of Allegiance?"
Reasoning:

“I would find it disturbing for government to announce that religious faith is good, let alone to act on it. First, I think government neutrality on this subject is more respectful of citizens who disagree. I do not believe that a person’s religion or lack of it should have any bearing on their relationship to the state. Statements like these including ‘In God We Trust’ mark out two classes of citizens: those who do not trust in God are not part of the ‘We.’ They are marked as outsiders.”

Left2Right.com, May 6, 2006
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with JD's, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to government and constitutional law. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to government and constitutional law.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, 1987-present
  • Of Counsel, Irell & Manella LLP, 1977-present
  • Ralph Gregory Elliot Lecture, Yale Law School, 2001
  • Thomas J. Wilson Award, Best manuscript by a New Author submitted to Harvard University Press, 1989
  • Professor of Law, UCLA, 1977-1987
  • Visiting Professor of Law, Harvard University, 1986-1987
  • Visiting Professor of Law, University of Michigan Fall, 1984
  • Richard and Eleanor Dwyer Award for Excellence in Legal Scholarship, 1984
  • Visiting Professor of Law, Boston University, 1982-1983
  • UCLA School of Law Professor of the Year, 1980
  • Law Clerk, Judge Warren Ferguson, United States District Court, Los Angeles, 1975-1976
Education:
  • JD, summa cum laude, Loyola University of Los Angeles, 1975
  • Graduate work, Speech Communication, UCLA (all, but dissertation), 1966-1970
  • MA, Speech and Drama, San Fernando Valley State College, 1964
  • BA, Political Science, Loyola University of Los Angeles, 1963
Other:
  • None found
Quoted in:
  1. Is the United States a Monotheistic (One God) State?