Friday, March 15, 2019 at 8:45am to 5:30pm
UCI School of Law, Law 3500
Lawyers play an important part in constitutional interpretation and constitutional change in the United States. Even if Supreme Court Justices are the ultimate arbiters of constitutional questions that come before the Court, they nevertheless rely on lawyers and their organizations to supply arguments to explain, support, and defend their decisions. Lawyers are also part of the “audience” for judicial decision-making—those whose approval judges care about and who hold them accountable. Lawyers serve as intermediaries between the courts and the public, translating laypersons’ perspectives into legal language and explaining judicial opinions to the electorate. Lawyers also shape perceptions in other important arenas of contest over constitutional interpretation, including legislatures and agencies, the media, and popular opinion.
This conference convenes scholars who are studying various aspects of how lawyers influence constitutional interpretation and constitutional change—as organizational entrepreneurs and suppliers of arguments; as part of the “audience” for judicial decision-making; as translators and interpreters; and as suppliers and purveyors of frames that influence litigation, organizing, coalition-building, and public perceptions of constitutional meaning.
Participants Include:
Swethaa Ballakrishnen, UCI School of Law
Lawrence Baum, The Ohio State University
Paul Baumgardner, American Bar Foundation
Scott Cummings, UCLA School of Law
Neal Devins, William & Mary
Mark Graber, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Amanda Hollis-Brusky, Pomona College
Kenneth Kersch, Boston College
Sanford Levinson, University of Texas
Leah Litman, UCI School of Law
Jane Schacter, Stanford Law
Christopher Schmidt, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Carroll Seron, UCI
Gordon Silverstein, Yale Law School
Ann Southworth, UCI School of Law
Mary Ziegler, Florida State University
Click here for the full event schedule.