COEUR d'ALENE - Constitutional scholar and author Dr. David Adler will speak on "The Constitution and Religion: Origins, Challenges and Accommodations" during a program at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, May 8, at 7 p.m.

The free program, co-sponsored by the Coeur d'Alene Press and the Idaho Humanities Council with additional support from the Friends of the Library, will be presented in the Community Room at the library, 702 E. Front Ave.

Adler, who has spoken at the library on constitutional issues before, is director of the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University, where he holds an appointment as the Cecil Andrus Professor of Public Affairs.

He formerly served as James A. McClure Professor and director of the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research at the University of Idaho, where he held a joint appointment in the Department of Political Science and the College of Law, in which he taught courses on the Constitution and the Supreme Court.

Before that, Adler was professor of political science and director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at Idaho State University. A recipient of numerous teaching, civic and writing awards, Adler has published in the leading journals of his field, and has lectured nationally and internationally on the Constitution and presidential power, including talks at more than 35 colleges and universities.

Adler is the author of more than 100 scholarly articles, essays and book chapters. His books include: the two-volume work, "American Constitutional Law"; "The Constitution and the Conduct of American Foreign Policy"; "The Presidency and the Law: The Clinton Legacy"; and "The Constitution and the Termination of Treaties," as well as the forthcoming books, "Presidential Power and the Constitution" and "The Steel Seizure Case."

Known for their non-partisan nature, his scholarly writings have been reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, widely cited by political scientists, historians and law professors, and invoked by both Republicans and Democrats serving in all three branches of government. He has consulted with members of Congress from both parties on a variety of constitutional issues, including impeachment, the war power and treaty termination. He is completing a book on holding government accountable.

He is a frequent commentator on state and national events, his lectures have aired on C-Span, and he has done scores of interviews with, among others, reporters from the New York Times, Washington Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, National Review, Fox News, NPR, NBC, CNN and the BBC.

The recipient of the 2010 Idaho Humanities Council's "Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities Award," Adler has served as a member of the Board of Directors of various academic, corporate and civic organizations. He earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah.

This program is made possible by the Idaho Humanities Council, the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.