Supreme Court Justices Adopt Trapped in Amber Metaphor to Debate Originalism

By Haley Proctor · SCOTUSblog · 2026-08-06

SCOTUSblog reports that a specific paleontological metaphor has rapidly infiltrated high court opinions to describe the rigidity of constitutional law. While the phrase suggests a fossilized legal framework, justices are increasingly using it to explain how historical texts can s

SCOTUSblog reports that a specific paleontological metaphor has rapidly infiltrated high court opinions to describe the rigidity of constitutional law. While the phrase suggests a fossilized legal framework, justices are increasingly using it to explain how historical texts can s