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Faculty Members Attend Conference on International Constitutional Law

From July 6-10, 2026, Professors Deep Gulasekaram and Scott-Skinner Thompson attended the (WCCL), hosted by the Universidad Externado de Colombia in Bogota.听

This conference, organized by the , is held once every four years and brings together scholars, judges and lawyers for a comparative conversation regarding constitutional law. Both Gulasekaram and Skinner-Thompson had their papers selected for presentation and were attending this year鈥檚 conference for the first time.听

Gulasekaram and Scott skinner thompson WLLC

鈥淭he WCCL provides an opportunity to learn and dialogue about common constitutional challenges that are occurring across the globe and discover tools and solutions that may be applicable in the U.S. context,鈥 Skinner-Thompson said.听

During their time representing both Colorado Law and the Byron R. White Center, 听Gulasekaram鈥攖he Director of the Center--presented his article 鈥鈥 during a workshop on 鈥淐onstitutional Interpretation in Emergency鈥 situations. 听Skinner-Thompson spoke during a workshop on 鈥淒emocratic Backsliding and 鈥楪ender Wars,鈥 presenting his article 鈥

鈥淕iven that attacks on transgender lives are a global phenomenon, sharing my perspectives on how to better think and talk about gender identity so as to garner better legal protections has the potential to influence law reform in other nations,鈥 Skinner-Thompson said.

The five-day conference offered attendees opportunities to attend workshops, plenary sessions and other academic activities. In addition to these offerings, Gulasekaram participated in a unique public deliberative process on 鈥淒emocracy as a Human Right,鈥 and Skinner-Thompson attended discussions regarding LGBTQ rights in Colombia.

听鈥淔or me, one of the key takeaways, particularly from the sessions on Colombian constitutional law, was the degree to which democracy is never static and must constantly be defended, but also how it can be incredibly resilient and innovative.鈥 Skinner-Thompson said. 鈥淗earing from lawyers involved in constitutional reform in Colombia鈥攁 country that has experienced more than its fair share of upheaval and violence鈥攚as incredibly inspiring at this moment when constitutional norms in the U.S. are being tested.鈥

For faculty members, the value of attending events like WCCL extends far beyond the immediate sessions鈥攊t also serves as a chance for legal academics to听stay up-to-date on the most recent developments in the field and share their own research and perspectives with international colleagues.

Skinner-Thompson and Gulasekaram鈥檚 engagement with scholars, judges and practitioners from around the world reflects the law school's ongoing commitment to comparative and global perspectives in legal education.

鈥淐omparing legal systems is critically important for students and professors in that it helps us realize that the U.S. method is not necessarily the only method, and that there may be other legal innovations and tools at our disposal,鈥 Skinner-Thompson said.