WCL Raskin Book

Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law & Acting Dean February 28, 2021 One of the most rewarding aspects of being a dean is the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of one’s colleagues. That opportunity extends to members of the broader WCL community. There is no one of whom I am prouder than my friend Jamie Raskin. Your grace under fire was extraordinary to behold. Your deeply ingrained belief in the Constitution—in “We the People”— shone through. In a country that has become increasingly cynical about truth, facts, and societal institutions, your unbridled faith in our government was bracing. Youhave long been optimistic about theAmerican experiment, while at the same time acknowledging the many respects in which that experiment has fallen short of its ideals. That optimism led you to believe that fair-minded jurors—US Senators who were not only jurors but also witnesses to the shocking events of January 6, 2021—could not help but convict Donald Trump given the overwhelming evidence that he had committed the highest of all crimes: inciting insurrection against the United States. You and your House colleagues secured seven Republican votes for conviction, making this impeachment trial the most bipartisan impeachment of a president in US history. Although the 57-43 vote in favor of conviction was insufficient to convict, as you yourself said,

you achieved conviction in two other courts of surpassing importance—the court of public opinion and the court of history. That you were able to perform your constitutional duty so flawlessly while mourning the death of your beloved son Tommy is a remarkable achievement for which words fail. Watching and listening to you, your friends knew that your statements that Tommy was with you as you addressed the Senate were not mere rhetoric; they were profoundly true. Thank you for the extraordinary service you performed for our country in our time of need and in your time of pain.