This volume originates from a colloquium on originalist constitutional theory hosted in the autumn of 2008 by the Public Law and Legal Philosophy Research Group at the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario. Constitutional scholars and legal philosophers – proponents of originalism, sceptics, and critics – drew from different jurisdictions and intellectual traditions to address the challenge of originalism. Following standard practice at PLLP colloquia, the entirety of the colloquium was given over to the exchange of ideas in informal discussion. The fruit is evident in this volume, which is the product of scholars engaging with each other to identify common ground, refine disagreement, and provoke questions for future discussion.

We are grateful to the University of Western Ontario, which has provided financial support for public law and legal philosophy since 2007, and in particular to Dr. Ted Hewitt, Vice-President (Research & International Relations), who supported the creation of the Public Law and Legal Philosophy Research Group.