Helen Knowles talked about The Tie Goes to Freedom: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on Liberty (Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.; January 28, 2009). In her book she gives a full examination of the jurisprudence of Justice Kennedy, who has been the tie-breaking vote in 5-4 decisions more often than any other Justice since the retirement of Justice O’Connor. Her mentor, Professor Randy Barnett, made comments afterward, and then Professor Knowles responded to his remarks and audience members' questions.

Ms. Knowles received the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society Hughes Gossett Award as a teaching fellow at Boston University, where she also earned her Ph.D.