From July 6-10, 2026, Professors Deep Gulasekaram and Scott-Skinner Thompson attended theWorld Congress of Constitutional Law(WCCL), hosted by the Universidad Externado de Colombia in Bogota.
This conference, organized by theInternational Association of Constitutional Law, 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’s conference for the first time.
“The 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,” Skinner-Thompson said.
During their time representing both Colorado Law and the Byron R. White Center, Gulasekaram—the Director of the Center–presented his article “The Borderline Constitution” during a workshop on “Constitutional Interpretation in Emergency” situations. Skinner-Thompson spoke during a workshop on “Democratic Backsliding and ‘Gender Wars,” presenting his article “Law’s Gender Ideology
“Given 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,” 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 “Democracy as a Human Right,” and Skinner-Thompson attended discussions regarding LGBTQ rights in Colombia.
“For 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.” Skinner-Thompson said. “Hearing from lawyers involved in constitutional reform in Colombia—a country that has experienced more than its fair share of upheaval and violence—was incredibly inspiring at this moment when constitutional norms in the U.S. are being tested.”
For faculty members, the value of attending events like WCCL extends far beyond the immediate sessions—it also serves as a chance for legal academics to 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’s 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.
“Comparing 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,” Skinner-Thompson said.
