Yale University Honors John Hart Ely with LL.M.

On May 26, 2003, at its Law School Commencement ceremony, Yale University bestowed an honorary LL.M. on John Hart Ely in recognition of his outstanding contributions to constitutional scholarship. Ely commented, "This was one of the greatest honors of my life." Among the other recipients of honorary degrees was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Yale University proclamation commends Ely in part as follows:

"Yours is the work that sets the standard for constitutional scholarship in our generation. With forceful argument and impeccable scholarship, you have given clarity to our concept of democracy, by exploring when and how the Supreme Court should exercise its extraordinary power to declare legislation unconstitutional. As a teacher, scholar, and dean, you have made significant contributions to the education of countless lawyers and judges. Your record of service and accomplishment includes the Yale Law School, where you studied and taught with distinction. We are proud to award you, as one of our own, the degree of Doctor of Law."