USC Constitution Day lecture views role of judges

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — An expert in constitutional law and the judicial process is scheduled to deliver a lecture in honor of the Constitution Day at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Syracuse University professor Keith Bybee is set to speak on Thursday.

Bybee says he thinks that the public has two views of judges: some see them as fair interpreters of the law, while others view them as legislating from the bench. He says judges rule on a wide range of issues and their actions may be seen as political, yet their judicial decisions seem to be widely accepted.

The late Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia led the initiative to declare Sept. 17 as a national day to honor the Constitution. The event is free and open to the public.