Constitutional Interpretation and Change
A Debate on "The Dirty Dozen": The Worst Supreme Court Cases in the Modern Era?
Released in May 2008, The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom analyzes what co-authors Robert Levy of the Cato Institute and William Mellor of the Institute for Justice view as the worst U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the modern era. The authors include cases on a wide range of topics including interstate commerce, affirmative action, economic rights, and campaign finance. The book has contributed to an energetic, wide-reaching debate about the Supreme Court, generating an extensive range of opinions among legal professionals, concerned non-lawyers, and Court followers about the impact of the cases discussed and the role of the Court. The American Constitution Society and The Cato Institute were pleased to provide a public platform for this important debate. Leading practitioners and academics from different perspectives discussed the book and debated whether the cases selected by the author are in fact the twelve worst cases in recent times.
The debate featured:
The Convention on Racial Discrimination: What Does It Means for U.S. Policy?
ACS hosted a briefing examining the ongoing discussion about, and potential federal legislative implication of, United States compliance with an international agreement on racial discrimination. The agreement is known as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Panelists at May 9, 2008 briefing, including experts who participated in the recent proceedings in Geneva, described CERD and the CERD compliance process, discuss the CERD Committee's findings and recommendations, and explored the role that Congress could play to address U.S. compliance with CERD.
'District of Columbia v. Heller': The Advocates Speak
On March 18, 2008, ACS hosted an argument night panel featuring leading advocates and amici in the case District of Columbia v. Heller, which concerns the constitutionality of the District's ban on the private possession of handguns. Panelists discussed the key issues in the case in light of the argument in the U.S. Supreme Court earlier that day.
The panel featured:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
6 - 8 p.m.
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
1625 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
The Second Amendment in the Supreme Court
On March 13, ACS hosted a press briefing on the Supreme Court case, District of Columbia v. Heller, which concerns the constitutionality of the District of Columbia’s ban on the private possession of handguns. Experts from a variety of perspectives discussed whether the Second Amendment protects only militia-related rights or the rights of private individuals, the appropriate standard for reviewing gun control legislation and the potential legal and policy implications of the first Court decision in this area in 68 years. The Supreme Court heard oral argument on this case on March 18, 2008.
The panel featured:
Thursday, March 13, 2008
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Zenger Room
The National Press Club
529 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20045
January 15: Book Discussion on Free Speech with Anthony Lewis
On January 15, the American Constitution Society held a discussion on free speech and a book signing with Anthony Lewis, author of Freedom For The Thought That We Hate: A Biography Of The First Amendment at the law firm of Jenner & Block. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lewis was a columnist for the New York Times op ed page from 1969 through 2001. He has also been a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School and a visiting professor at the Universities of Columbia, California, Illinois, Oregon and Arizona and is the author of three previous books including Gideon's Trumpet.
Lewis' latest work traces the First Amendment from its early origins and engages such contemporary issues as hate speech and journalists' claim of a right to conceal confidential sources. In describing the great legal battles along the way, the author reminds us that it is judges, issuing their written interpretations of the First Amendment, who have made the U.S. the most boisterous, outspoken and free society in history.
