Russ Feingold
ACS President
Russ Feingold is the President of the American Constitution Society. He served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1993 to 2011 and a Wisconsin State Senator from 1983 to 1993. From 2013 to 2015, he served as the United States Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
During his 18 years in the United States Senate, Russ was ranked 6th in the Senate for bipartisan voting. He is a recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and cosponsored the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act), the only major piece of campaign finance reform legislation passed into law in decades. Russ was the only Senator to vote against the initial enactment of the USA PATRIOT Act during the first vote on the legislation and was well-known for his opposition to the Iraq War and as the Senate's leading opponent of the death penalty. He served on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Budget, and Intelligence Committees. Russ was Chairman or Ranking Member of the Constitution Subcommittee.
For the better part of the last 10 years and in addition to his congressional and diplomatic career, Russ has taught extensively at various American law schools including Stanford Law School, Yale Law School, Marquette University Law School, and Harvard Law School. In this capacity, he has played a significant mentoring role to law students, preparing him for his role as President of the American Constitution Society. He has also taught foreign policy to graduate and undergraduate students at Stanford University, University of Wisconsin, Yale University, Lawrence University, and American University.
Russ is the Honorary Ambassador for the Campaign for Nature which is a global effort calling on policymakers to commit to address the growing biodiversity crisis. The Campaign seeks a science-driven, ambitious new deal for nature at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China, in 2021.
He is the author of While America Sleeps: A Wake-Up Call for the Post-9/11 Era and contributes regularly to various publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. He appears frequently on MSNBC and CNN. Russ holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Oxford (as a Rhodes Scholar), and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, all degrees awarded with honors.
InBrief Blog
We Must Continue to Raise Our Voices to Protect Our Constitutional Rights
November 5, 2021
InBrief Blog
This is Why ACS is Calling for Urgent and Specific Supreme Court Reforms
October 22, 2021
InBrief Blog
Truth Telling is Critical to Addressing Legal System’s Failings Toward Indigenous Peoples
October 15, 2021
InBrief Blog
‘State Secrets’ Case Will Highlight SCOTUS’ Willingness to Protect Fundamental Liberties
October 7, 2021
ExpertForum Blog
Lezmond Mitchell’s Execution Would Be Another Broken Promise to Tribal Nations
August 24, 2020
press release
American Constitution Society Taps Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold As Its New President
February 25, 2020
press release
April 7, 2020
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ACS President Russ Feingold Responds to Violent Attack on U.S. Capitol
January 7, 2021
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ACS President Russ Feingold Calls on Legal Leaders to Speak Out on Police Violence
August 27, 2020
press release
Guilty Verdict for the Killers of Ahmaud Arbery an Aberration of Our Legal System
November 24, 2021
press release
Rittenhouse Verdict Emblematic of Systemic Issues In Our Legal System
November 19, 2021
video
Foxes and Henhouses: Restoring Oversight and Accountability A Year After the 2020 Election
November 18, 2021
InBrief Blog
We Must Continue to Raise Our Voices to Protect Our Constitutional Rights
November 5, 2021
InBrief Blog
This is Why ACS is Calling for Urgent and Specific Supreme Court Reforms
October 22, 2021
InBrief Blog
Truth Telling is Critical to Addressing Legal System’s Failings Toward Indigenous Peoples
October 15, 2021
press release
ACS’s Statement on the President’s Commission on the Supreme Court’s Release of Discussion Materials
October 14, 2021
press release
ACS’s Statement of Support for Black Lives Matter at School Day of Action
October 14, 2021
InBrief Blog
‘State Secrets’ Case Will Highlight SCOTUS’ Willingness to Protect Fundamental Liberties
October 7, 2021
press release
ACS’s Statement on First Day of Historic & Consequential New SCOTUS Term
October 4, 2021
press release
ACS President Russ Feingold’s Statement on Latest Round of Judicial Nominees
September 30, 2021
press release
ACS Statement on Revelations Surrounding FBI's Handling Of Kavanaugh Investigation
July 22, 2021
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ACS Announces Creation of Award in Honor of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
June 8, 2021
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ACS Commemorates the Life & Legacy of George Floyd on the One-Year Anniversary of His Murder
May 25, 2021
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American Constitution Society Celebrates Resilient and Dedicated Class of 2021
May 21, 2021
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ACS President Urges Court Reform Commission to Act with Urgency, Prioritize Specific Recommendations
May 19, 2021
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ACS President Welcomes New Biden Judicial Nominees & Stresses Urgent Need To Fill Vacancies
April 29, 2021
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ACS President Says SCOTUS Presidential Commission Needs to Operate with Urgency
April 9, 2021
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ACS President: First Judicial Nominees "A Positive First Step to Rebuilding Our Judiciary"
March 30, 2021
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ACS at 20: Honoring Two Decades of Shaping Debate, Building the Network, and Making a Difference
February 19, 2021
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February 18, 2021
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American Constitution Society Encourages Employers to Respect Workers' Rights
February 5, 2021
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On MLK Jr. Day, We Commit to Work to Find Solutions to Persisting Racial Inequality
January 17, 2021
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Killing of Corey Johnson, Dustin Higgs Cements Administration’s Cruel, Deadly and Racist Legacy
January 15, 2021
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January 14, 2021
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ACS President Condemns Execution of Lisa Montgomery, First Woman Executed by U.S. in 67 Years
January 13, 2021
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Accountability Needed for All Who Engaged In or Supported Seditious Acts
January 11, 2021
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ACS President Offers Condolences on Passing of Former Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson
December 21, 2020
press release
November 20, 2020
video
Is the End in Sight? The Questionable Future of Capital Punishment in America
November 19, 2020
press release
Feingold Denounces ‘Unprecedented Power Grab’ With Barrett’s Confirmation
October 26, 2020
press release
Supreme Court Confirmation is Stealing the Future of Generations to Come
October 11, 2020
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Roberts Court Conservatives Use ‘Shadow Docket’ to Shut Down Voting Rights Suits
October 8, 2020
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Rushed Nomination Amid Election and Pandemic Threatens Supreme Court's Legitimacy
September 26, 2020
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Christopher Vialva is First Man in 70 Years to be Executed for Crimes Committed as a Teenager
September 24, 2020
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William LeCroy's Execution Part of "Stunning and Disturbing Trends"
September 22, 2020
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September 17, 2020
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September 17, 2020
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ACS President Says Americans Deserve Fair-Minded Supreme Court Justices
September 9, 2020
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On 100th Anniversary of 19th Amendment, ACS Honors Those Who Fought for the Vote
August 18, 2020
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July 16, 2020
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June 26, 2020
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June 18, 2020
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American Constitution Society Announces David Adeleye as Newest Student Board Member
June 11, 2020
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American Constitution Society to Observe National Day of Mourning Thursday
June 2, 2020
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American Constitution Society Honors Future Progressive Leaders With Virtual Graduation Ceremony
May 26, 2020
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American Constitution Society Unveils New Tool To Track Race, Ethnicity and Gender of Federal Judges
March 9, 2020