Edward Timothy Whelan (born 1962) is a prominent American conservative legal scholar, commentator, and former government official known for his work in constitutional law and judicial nominations. He graduated from Harvard College in 1984 and earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1988. Following law school, he clerked for Judge Robert H. Bork on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and for Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court during the 1989-1990 term. His early career included roles as an associate at Sidley Austin and as a special assistant to the Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. He later served as principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel from 2001 to 2003 under President George W. Bush, where he contributed to legal opinions on executive authority and national security.

From 2004 to 2013, Whelan served as president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), a conservative think tank focused on promoting Judeo-Christian values and limited government. During his tenure, he expanded the organization's influence in legal and policy debates, particularly on issues like abortion, religious liberty, and judicial philosophy. He stepped down in 2017, succeeded by Ryan T. Anderson. Whelan has been a vocal critic of progressive judicial activism and a defender of originalist interpretations of the Constitution. He currently serves as a distinguished senior fellow at EPPC and contributes regularly to National Review, where he writes on Supreme Court matters and conservative legal thought. His work has positioned him as a key figure in conservative networks influencing judicial appointments and policy.

Whelan's career has intersected with major political events, including the confirmation battles over Bork's Supreme Court nomination (which he observed closely as a clerk) and the Roberts Court era. He has testified before Congress on judicial issues and advised on Republican legal strategies. While not directly involved in electoral politics, his affiliations with conservative organizations like the Federalist Society underscore his role in shaping influence networks around originalism and traditional values. No major legal controversies or personal scandals are publicly documented in his record.