Monday, January 14, 2008

Judges, free speech, and civil rights

Thanks to a recommendation from Matt, I recently read The Last Liberal: Justice William J. Brennan Jr. and the Decisions that Transformed America. It's a fascinating account of the former Supreme Court justice, who, although little known by most Americans, played a huge role in advocating for free speech and civil liberties.

These obviously remain vital topics, and thanks to Kim for sending along word of a timely discussion this week at Roger Williams University Law School:

The US Supreme Court is ruling on wiretapping, detention, executive power, the 2nd Amendment and much more. And now with a conservative majority. But what does it mean? Hear from two national experts:

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Should the U.S. Supreme Court be Conservative?

Join us for a Liberal and Conservative perspective of the Supreme Court's Shift to the Right.

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Lunch beginning at 12:00, event from 12:30PM - 1:30PM

At Roger Williams University School of Law (Room 262) in Bristol, RI

From the Left: Nan Aron, president and founder of Alliance for Justice, a national association of public interest and civil rights organizations, serving as the country's voice for a fair and independent judiciary. Her notable accomplishments include helping to defeat Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court in 1987 and supporting the nomination of Roger Gregory, the first African-American judge in the Fourth Circuit, in 2001.

From the Right: Ronald Cass, president of Cass & Associates, and chairman of the Center for the Rule of Law, an independent, non-profit center of international scholars analyzing rule of law issues. He served Presidents Reagan and Bush as Vice-Chairman and Commissioner of the U. S. International Trade Commission. He is Dean Emeritus of Boston University School of Law, and serves on the Roger Williams Law Board of Directors.

Presented by: American Constitution Society, the Federalist Society, Women's Law Society, Multicultural Law Students Association, and Association of Public Interest Law.