New Media & The Law Event at GULC

On Wednesday, September 23, the Georgetown Federalist Society will be hosting a panel event on New Media & The Law at 7 PM in Hart Auditorium.

The panel will feature David Lat from Above the Law, Tony Mauro from the National Law Journal, and Matt Welch from Reason Magazine. Eileen O’Connor, adjunct professor at Georgetown and former reporter and bureau chief at CNN, will moderate.

The event will be followed by a reception.

Come one, come all!

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The Federalists were a Bunch of Old White Guys, The Federalist Society is Not

Georgetown Federalist Society President Eka Akpakip has submitted an article about the Society to the Georgetown Law Weekly. Text of the article can be found below the fold...

The Georgetown Federalist Society is one of the most active student groups on campus and also may be one of the most misunderstood. So just to clarify, the Federalists were a bunch of old white guys, the Federalist Society, however, is not. I should know, considering that I, the chapter President, am neither old, white, or a guy. I am actually quite young, very black, and most certainly a female.

I have started a new paragraph to give you time to recover from the shock. Now let’s move on. Also despite popular belief, the Federalist Society is about ideas NOT about politics. We are a non-partisan, non-profit organization, made up of conservatives and libertarians. The Society agrees on only three broad principles:

1. that the state exists to preserve freedom,
2. that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and
3. that it is emphatically the province of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. And no, there is no secret book somewhere containing another set of super secret, right-wing conspiracy principles: this isn’t a movie and I’m not Julia Roberts, so sorry, the Federalist Society really is what it says it is.

So now that we’ve cleared the air and you know that I am not an old, white guy who has hidden a subliminal right-wing conspiracy message in this article, you can read on without fear or malice. But you may now be thinking, well if you aren’t a right-wing conspiracy bent on world domination, then what could you possibly do? I’m glad you asked. The Federalist Society seeks to dispel the myth that there is no such thing as a reasonable conservative or libertarian legal argument. These ideas do exist, whether you hear about them in the classroom or not. And even if you have liberal ideas and decide to live in a nice little bubble where everyone agrees with you and where your ideas and beliefs must be right (left?) because it is the only point of view presented to you, that bubble will eventually burst. There are smart, reasonable conservatives and libertarians in the legal community and just stating the truth about the law as you see it is not going to be enough to win them over and shouldn’t be enough to win in any court of law. The Federalist Society wants other conservatives and libertarians in the legal community to know that are not alone; they also want liberals in the legal community to know that they are not alone.

Everyone, especially every law student, should be forced to figure out why they believe what they believe about how the government should be run and how judges should do their jobs. As a conservative-with-a-dash-of-libertarian at Georgetown, I continually come face to face with people who strongly disagreed with my beliefs about the law, the Constitution, and the role of the judiciary. And every day I have become a better student, with better arguments, because of the opposition I face. So I would like to thank all of those at Georgetown—liberals, conservatives, and libertarians alike—who have engaged me intelligently and helped me strengthen my various conservative and libertarian arguments. So as President of the Georgetown Federalist Society, I’d like to give back to the liberal community here at Georgetown by returning the favor. I urge you to burst the bubble, come to our events, and make your arguments even stronger. I mean, if you were a lawyer at trial and opposing counsel offered to let you take a look at all of their plans and strategies, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?

And now for the shameless plug. On Wednesday, September 23rd at 7 p.m. in Hart Auditorium the Georgetown Federalist Society will be hosting a panel on “New Media & the Law” featuring David Lat from Above the Law, Tony Mauro from the National Law Journal, and Matt Welch from Reason Magazine. The event will be moderated by Eileen O’Connor, adjunct professor at Georgetown and former reporter and bureau chief at CNN. It will be followed by a reception. I think that new media has dramatically changed how events in the legal community are covered, which is re-shaping how the legal community, especially law firms, communicate with their employees and with the outside world. Has it made things worse or better? Is it truly going to make things more transparent? I don’t know, come listen to our panelists and then you decide. Hope to see you all there and thanks for reading.

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Professor Nicholas Rosenkranz to Testify re: Sotomayor

Be sure to tune in to the Sotomayor hearings this Thursday. Georgetown Federalist Society faculty adviser Professor Nicholas Rosenkranz will be testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the role of a judge.

For more information about Professor Rosenkranz, take a look at his bio here.

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Ninth Circuit Says Second Amendment Incorporated

A few days ago, and shortly after visiting our chapter to discuss the prospect of splitting the Ninth Circuit, Judge O'Scannlain authored an opinion holding that the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right "deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition," (quoting Moore v. City of East Cleveland) and thus incorporated against the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The full decision is here: http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/nordyke-ca-4-20-09.pdf

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This Week's Events

Join us Wednesday, April 1 at noon, in McDonough 141 for a discussion on splitting the Ninth Circuit with Judge O'Scannlain. Food will be served, and the Judge will take questions.

Then join us Thursday, April 2 at 3:30, in McDonogh 202 for a debate entitled "Is Stare Decisis Unconstitutional?" The debate will feature Professor Michael Stokes Pausel of the University of St. Thomas and Professor Louis Seidman of Georgetown University Law Center.

Hope to see you all there.

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We're back

After 19 months in a coma, the Georgetown Federalist Society blog has awoken. We hope that it will become a forum for our members to discuss events and topics of interest. Details on how to participate to follow. Check your e-mail.

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Brutal first day of class?

Join us for happy hour at the Billy Goat! Have a drink, a burger, and meet fellow Federalists. 5:30 on Tuesday, September 4.

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Rachel Brand Lunch on Apr. 27

For anyone who remembers hearing from Assistant Attorney General Brand last semester, here's another opportunity to listen to her perspective. She'll be addressing how to communicate conlaw in our 24 hr media cycle. Where? A reasonably priced lunch in Chinatown.

Location:
Tony Cheng's Restaurant
619 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Gallery Place Metro

Speaker:
Hon. Rachel Brand, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Justice

Registration details:
The cost is $15.00/members and $20.00/guests.
Email to rsvp@fed-soc.org or 202.822.8138 (acceptances only)

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Interesting upcoming panel w/ John Bolton

U.S. Security, Trade, and Development
On Thursday, April 26, at the National Press Club, the Federalist Society will be hosting a very interesting panel at which John Bolton will be keynoting.

Location:
National Press Club
529 14th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by
THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, USAID, AND THE LSU LAW CENTER

Lawyers with an international law practice, or with clients that operate in foreign countries, realize the relationship among U.S. Security and trade between developing and developed countries. Yet more general policy discussion of trade agreements often fails to consider the connection between trade and U.S. security. The U.S. has an interest in having allies that are strong and economically healthy, rather than weak and poor. Our two-part program will consider what internal legal reforms are necessary for both U.S. companies and its trading partners to benefit more fully from increased trade with the U.S.

We will focus on the need and prospects for commercial law reform in developing countries that are, or may become, parties to trade agreements with the U.S. In entering into trade agreements, the U.S. requires certain legal changes from the other contracting parties and also encourages commercial law reforms to make the other countries more competitive.

The four panels, over two days, will be organized around USAID’s “Four Pillars” of commercial law reform: 1. Property Rights; 2. Contract Rights, specifically the need for laws governing secured transactions; 3. Business organization and de-regulation; and 4. Commercial conflict resolution, including the courts and arbitration.

The conference will have both a global perspective and a particular focus on Latin America. While the particulars differ from country to country and region to region, the issues to be discussed are the basic ones common to almost all developing nations.

Agenda:

Part I
Keynote Address:
Ambassador John Bolton, American Enterprise Institute

Panel Discussion on Property Rights:

Panel Discussion on Contract Rights- Secured Transactions


Registration details:
There is no cost to attend this event.

CLE credit will be offered at a cost of $25. Please indicate in the comments section when registering if you would like CLE credit.

Call 202-822-8138 with any questions. Or look here.

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Former AG Meese @ GMU on Apr. 18th

In a 1985 speech delivered to the American Bar Association, Attorney General Meese sparked a dramatic public debate on the question of constitutional interpretation, urging that the Court be guided by a “Jurisprudence of Original Intention.” Attorney General Meese will again take up the issue, reflecting on the 22 years since his original speech, commenting on the current status of constitutional interpretation, and questioning how the Judiciary can return to the principle of federalism.

Reclaiming the Constitution - Originalism Today
April 18 - George Mason Student Chapter
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 5:30 PM

Location:
Levy Atrium
George Mason University School of Law
3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22201


The George Mason University School of Law Federalist Society

Invites you to a speech by

Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III
"Reclaiming the Constitution – Originalism Today"

In a 1985 speech delivered to the American Bar Association, Attorney General Meese sparked a dramatic public debate on the question of constitutional interpretation, a debate which culminated in the appointment by President Ronald Reagan of William H. Rehnquist to Chief Justice and Antonin Scalia to Associate Justice. In reviewing Supreme Court decisions in the areas of Federalism, Criminal Procedure, and Religious Freedom before the American Bar Association, the Attorney General urged that the Court be guided by a “Jurisprudence of Original Intention.” Attorney General Meese will again take up the issue, reflecting on the 22 years since his original speech, commenting on the current status of constitutional interpretation, and questioning how the Judiciary can return to the principle of federalism.

No RSVP necessary.

If you have any questions, please contact Hubbel Relat at hrelat@gmu.edu.

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Election law panel today!

Join FedSoc, Law Dems, and Republican Club TODAY for an all-star election law panel.

We've got two Federal Election Commissioners, plus the general counsel from both the DNC and the Republican Governors Association. If anyone can tell you how current law affects the upcoming election, these guys are it!

See you in McDonough 203 at 2:00! As always, food will be provided.

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McDonnell TODAY

Bob McDonnell
Attorney General of Virginia
Today at 4:00
McDonough 205.

Federalist Society presents Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell. He will discuss the myriad issues facing Virginia and other states in the run-up to the November elections: emergency preparedness, the definition of marriage, property rights, crime, and more!

Join us on Wednesday, October 18 @ 4:00 in McDonough 205. As always, food and beverages will be served!

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Fraud, misdeeds, and liability-oh my!

Join us TODAY for a discussion of corporate officer & director liability. Discussion of recent cases by:

Donald Parsons, Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Courts of Chancery

Commentary by Professor Jeffrey Bauman

2:30 Today, Room 140
Food and drinks will be served!

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Fraud, misdeeds, and liability-oh my!

Join us TODAY for a discussion of corporate officer & director liability. Discussion of recent cases by:

Donald Parsons, Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Courts of Chancery

Commentary by Professor Jeffrey Bauman

2:30 Today, Room 140
Food and drinks will be served!

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Lunch with Professor Volokh

Pizza With A Prof!

Join us for lunch today with Professor Sasha Volokh. He's brand new at GULC, doing great law & economics work, and fresh from clerkships with Kozinski, O'Connor, and Alito.

That's TODAY--Hotung 2000 @12:15. See you there!

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Posner Tonight!

Lifetime Service Award tonight!

Join us to hear the illustrous RICHARD POSNER. He will be speaking on the topic of "Judicial Self-Restraint." Award and address at 6:00 in Hart Auditorium, with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres afterward in the Hotung lobby.

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The Feminist Case Against Abortion

While not a Federalist event, this looks interesting:

On Wednesday, September 13th, at 6pm in Hart Auditorium (located at 1st and F Streets NW in Washington, DC), Georgetown University Law Center will host Serrin Foster, the President of Feminists for Life. Ms. Foster will give a lecture entitled "The Feminist Case AGAINST Abortion."

Her remarks will be followed by commentary by Julia Thornton who during her freshman year of college gave birth under challenging circumstances to a child who was subsequently adopted. Following remarks by both speakers, there will be a question and answer period. The event is co-sponsored by Progressive Alliance for Life, Campus Ministries, Christian Legal Society, Catholic Forum, and Law Republicans. A reception with food and beverages will follow the event.

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Debate on Conscience Clauses: First Amendment Right or Unconstitutional Barrier to Medical Care?

What do you think about pharmacists who refuse to provide treatments they believe are immoral? Should they be protected? Are they way out of line?

Just down the street at the Capitol, this Friday (Sept. 8) during lunch, hear excellent representatives of both sides of the argument - Kevin Hasson, Founder of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty vs. Jill Morrison, Senior Counsel of the National Women's Law Center. Seating is limited, so learn more and RSVP here.

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