Biography

Author of an influential series of articles on national rights to equal citizenship under the 14th Amendment and other aspects of federalism, William Cohen has devoted over 50 years to the study and teaching of constitutional law. In addition to his scholarship in the field of federal jurisdiction, Professor Cohen is the editor of a major constitutional law casebook, which is currently in its twelfth edition, and a longtime teacher of torts. He has been a visiting professor at Arizona State University College of Law, where he served as the Merriam Distinguished Visiting Professor. Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 1970, he was a professor of law at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law and at the University of Minnesota Law School. Early in his career he clerked for Justice William O. Douglas of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Key Works

• William Cohen, Discrimination Against New State Citizens: An Update, 11 Constitutional Commentary 73-79 (1994).
• William Cohen, Equal Treatment for Newcomers: The Core Meaning of State and National Citizenship, 1 Constitutional Commentary 9 (1984)
• William Cohen, Congressional Power to Interpret Due Process and Equal Protection, 27 Stanford Law Review 603 (1975).
• William Cohen, Broken Compass: The Requirement that a Case Arise directly Under Federal Law, 114 University of Pennsylvania Law Review 890 (1967).

Publications & Cases

Recent Publications View All

• William Cohen, David J. Danelski and David A. Yalof, Constitutional Law: Civil Liberty and Individual Rights, New York: Foundation Press, 6th ed., 2007.
• William Cohen, Constitutional Law: Cases and Materials, 12th ed. New York: Foundation Press, 2005. (with Jonathan D. Varat and Vikram Amar)
• William Cohen, 2003 Supplement to The First Amendment: Constitutional Protection of Expression and Conscience, New York, NY: Foundation Press, 2003. 32 pages.
• William Cohen, The First Amendment: Constitutional Protection of Expression and Conscience, New York: Foundation Press, 2003. 610 pages.
• William Cohen and David J. Danelski, Constitutional Law: Civil Liberty and Individual Rights, 5th ed., New York, N.Y.: Foundation Press, 1316 p., 2002.
• William Cohen, Tribute to Professor Gerald Gunther: Gerald Gunther, 55 Stanford Law Review 651-652 (December 2002)
• William Cohen and Jonathan D. Varat, Constitutional Law: Cases and Materials, 11th ed., New York: Foundation Press, 1721 p., 2001.
• William Cohen, Clerks, Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, Second Edition. Edited by Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst. New York: Macmillan Reference, 2000. p.429.
• William Cohen, Economic Due Process, Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, Second Edition. Edited by Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst. New York: Macmillan Reference, 2000. p.837-839.
• William Cohen, Economic Equal Protection, Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, Second Edition. Edited by Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst. New York: Macmillan Reference, 2000. p.839-841.