and so it is my great honor to welcome justice steven bryer about illustrious career. this conversation will focus on the justice's time on the high court and his new book, reading the constitution why i chose pragmatism not textualism. i know that we are in for a real treat. most if not all of you know about the justice's exemplary 28 years on the supreme court and many of you are aware that he served for 14 years on the court of appeals for the first circuit in boston and was a law clerk to justice arthur goldberg. less well known are his services in the legislative branch twice working for senator code kennedy on the judiciary committee and stint in the executive branch and antitrust division of the justice department and finally as an assistant prosecutor in the watergate special prosecutor's office. not to mention his time on the sentencing commission while on the court of appeals. he's also much more than a lawyer having had a major role in the design and construction of the magnificent courthouse in boston while he was chief judge which led to his appointment to