In the News at Boalt ACS

Past events

April 27, 2004: Mathew Nosanchuk of the Violence Policy Center spoke about firearms laws and the Second Amendment.

April 19, 2004: Judge David Tatel (below) of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals spoke about the importance of the role of lawyers in working for positive change.

April 15, 2004: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals judges Stephen Reinhardt and Alex Kozinksi discussed various issues in law and judging.

Above (left to right): Judge Stephen Reinhardt, moderator Prof. Vikram Amar, and Judge Alex Kozinksi. (Photo by Jim Block)

Above: New Boalt Dean and ACS Board of Advisors member Christopher Edley, Jr. enjoys the exchange between Judges Reinhardt and Kozinksi (Photo by Jim Block).

Above: Judge Kozinksi drives home his point. (Photo by Jim Block)

March 11, 2004: Beth Nolan (Senior Partner at Crowell & Moring and former head White House Counsel) and Cheryl Mills (Senior Vice President for Operations and Administration at NYU, and first African-American deputy White House Counsel) spoke at Boalt about their experience in the Clinton White House.

Above: Cheryl Mills (third from left) and Beth Nolan (second from right) pose with the board of the Boalt ACS Chapter.

Feb 19, 2004: The case of Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow first gained notoriety when the Ninth Circuit struck down the school district's policy of leading elementary school students in the Pledge of Allegiance, which includes the phrase "Under God", as a violation of the Establishment Clause. Boalt ACS recently held a moot court for the case, featuring the plaintiff Michael Newdow (representing himself in the real Supreme Court as well) and Prof. Vikram Amar representing Elk Grove. Click here for briefs and background materials. Click here for a webcast of the event.

Above: The court for Elk Grove v. Newdow, including (from left to right) appellate attorney Joan Wolff , former Boalt dean and family law scholar Prof. Herma Hill Kay, former Boalt dean and First Amendment scholar Prof. Jesse Choper, church-state relations scholar Prof. William Bassett of the USF School of Law, and Ragesh Tangri of Keker & Van Nest.

Above: Plaintiff Michael Newdow argued his case before the court.

Above: Prof. Vikram Amar argued for Elk Grove.

A streaming webcast of the event is now online:

CLICK HERE for the oral arguments (1 hour)

CLICK HERE to skip to Newdow's arguments

CLICK HERE for the court's analysis (20 min)

(CLICK HERE if you need to download the RealPlayer software to see the webcast)

Oct 24, 2003: Jim Dempsey (below), Executive Director of the Center for Democracy and Technology presented "The Patriot Act and Other Assaults on Civil Liberties" on October 24th at 1 PM, in the Faculty Lounge (North Addition).

Sept 11, 2003: James Brosnahan (below) spoke on the subject of civil liberties and his defense of John Walker Lindh.

Aug 1-3, 2003: The Boalt Chapter made a strong showing at the First National Convention of the ACS in Washington D.C. Chapter President Mazen Basrawi introduced former Solictor General Walter Dellinger. Other speakers included Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Attorney General Janet Reno, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Videos and transcripts of the event are available here. Click here for an entertaining Washington Post article about the event.

April 15, 2003: Judge William Fletcher of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals spoke with students at the April 15 Tea. Judge Fletcher discussed the state of judicial nominations in the Senate.

Above, from left to right: Professor Philip Frickey, Mary Louise Frampton, and Judge William Fletcher at the April 15 Tea.

Above: Judge Fletcher speaks with students.

March 18, 2003: The Boalt ACS Chapter hosted a panel discussion on the affirmative action cases presently before the Supreme Court. Panel members included Professors Daniel Farber, Rachel Moran, and Herma Hill Kay.

Above, from left to right: Former Dean Herma Hill Kay, Professor Rachel Moran and Professsor Daniel Farber, accompanied by moderator Melissa Mortazavi.

Above: Chapter President Mazen Basrawi introduces the panel.

February 20, 2003: ACS hosted a talk by Jeff Berman, chief counsel for Senator Schumer. Jeff spoke about the confirmation process for federal judges, the prospects for present nominees, and the nature of his job working as chief counsel for Senator Schumer.

Upcoming events of interest:

April, 2004: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals judges Stephen Reinhardt and Alex Kozinksi will debate various issues in law and judging. Room and time TBA.

April, 2004: Judge David Tatel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will speak on a selected topic. Room and time TBA.