Maryjane Johnson

Maryjane Johnson is a program associate in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

Contributions

Judicial Interpretation
Criminal Law
Reproductive Rights

State Justices Continue to Challenge Originalism

A lively debate about the value of “history and tradition” in analyzing cases is ongoing in state courts. Some justices are pushing for alternative interpretative methodologies.

By Chihiro Isozaki , Maryjane Johnson

Iowa
North Carolina
South Carolina
Maryland

August 12, 2025