Professor Geoffrey Stone, Author of Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime sits down to lunch with Chicago Society members

January 2006—Chicago Society members were delighted to sit down to an intimate lunch with Professor Geoffrey R. Stone, Harry Kalven, Jr. Distinguished Service Professor of Law, formerly both Dean of the Law School and Provost of the University. In a candid discussion about his career and interest in civil liberties, Stone began the luncheon by speaking on his experiences after law school and the motivations behind his recent award-winning book, Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime from the Sedition Act of 1798 to the War on Terrorism.

During the hour-and-a-half luncheon, Stone addressed topics from the Sedition Act to the revelation this month by the New York Times of National Security Administration surveillance of American citizens on international phone calls without warrants. Stone explained that one of the primary reasons for his historical research into the restrictions of civil liberties during war is to ask the question, “can we learn from these experiences and restrain ourselves better now than in the past?”

Students in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions of Professor Stone on both current and historical events during the lunch. All agreed he was an excellent choice for the luncheon. Stone said he believed one’s political views are intimately connected to one’s legal perspective, but that the long time delay between arguments made to the Supreme Court and the releasing of the court’s decisions helps the justices overcome partisan “instincts.” Stone’s impressive legal experience includes clerking for Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr. after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School. He currently edits the journal Supreme Court Law Review.

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