Georgia State University College of Law celebrated the official opening of the new Emmet J. Bondurant Center for Constitutional Law, Practice and Democracy on April 2, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests at the event, including faculty, university administration and friends of the college, were treated to guided tours of the Georgia State Law building and the new center. They also had the opportunity to take photos holding the ceremonial scissors.
The center’s founding donors, Emmet J. Bondurant and Jane Fahey, attended the event and were celebrated for their support of the college, its faculty and students.
(L to R) Professor Anthony Kreis, associate director of the Bondurant Center for Constitutional Law, Professor Eric Segall, Ashe Family Chair in Law and executive director of the Bondurant Center for Constitutional Law, Founding Donors Emmet J. Bondurant and Jane Fahey, and Dean of the College of Law Courtney Anderson prepare to cut the ribbon for the new center.
“Emmet Bondurant and his wife, Jane Fahey, were two lawyers who represented the very, very best of our profession, in terms of ethics, professionalism, talent, and most importantly, a commitment to the rule of law, democracy and our United States Constitution,” said Georgia State Law Professor Eric Segall, the first executive director for the center and the Ashe Family Chair Professor of Law.
Bondurant is well known for his successful 1964 argument before the United States Supreme Court in Wesberry v. Sanders, which held for the first time that congressional districts must contain equal populations. The outcome cemented the popular slogan “one person, one vote,” and is evidence of Bondurant’s decades-long commitment to constitutionally protected civil rights for all. In 2024, he was awarded the American Bar Association Medal, the ABA’s highest honor, for his pursuit of civil rights justice in the state of Georgia.
"Georgia State is the place we chose [to establish this center], because Georgia State Law has reflected an independence and a courage to speak out about constitutional issues that many believe, but few are willing to say,” said Bondurant.
Fahey, a retired reverend of the Presbyterian Church, worked as a clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor before becoming a partner at Bondurant, Mixson and Elmore. Fahey also served as a commercial litigator before retiring from the firm and was active in pro bono work during her years as an attorney. Her commitment to legal scholarship began as a law student at the William & Mary School of Law, where she was editor-in-chief of the law review.
"This center is off to a great start with a board of advisors and the constitutional law faculty, and not to mention Dean Courtney Anderson,” said Fahey. “We are really indebted to these professionals for [the] investment they’re going to make by shaping the strategic direction of the center.”
The Bondurant Center for Constitutional Law Board of Advisors and friends of the college show their appreciation to donors Emmet J. Bondurant and Jane Fahey at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Professor Anthony Michael Kreis, the associate dean for Faculty Research & Development at Georgia State Law, will join Segall as associate director, and constitutional law faculty members Professor Neil Kinkopf and Assistant Professor Andrew Willinger will contribute their expertise to the center and its initiatives.
“The Bondurant Center is going to provide us the place, the resources and the opportunities to ensure that our students, our community, practitioners, judges and elected officials have a better understanding of our law, our history and the importance of the rule of law in American democracy,” said Kreis.
The new center brings together scholars, faculty and students to study and support constitutional law, and democracy, addressing a critical need in the Southeastern U.S. at a time when voting rights, trust in elections and the integrity of democratic institutions are at the center of national conversation.
“We're really proud that Georgia State is willing to take on this endeavor, to be a voice in defense of constitution and in defense of democracy,” said Bondurant.
Bondurant and Fahey’s founding gift includes a million-dollar challenge to encourage others to donate in support of the center and its mission. To make a gift to the center, donate here or reach out to Angie Tacker at [email protected].