FedSoc Events

On March 14, 2020, the Federalist Society held its 39th National Student Symposium. The Symposium was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Law School but was rescheduled as a digital conference. The 2020 Story Award was presented to Professor Stephen E. Sachs of Duke University School of Law.
Featuring:

Prof. Stephen E. Sachs, Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about the Joseph Story Award:https://fedsoc.org/joseph-story-award
FedSoc Blog: The 2020 Joseph Story Awardhttps://fedsoc.org/commentary/fedsoc-blog/the-2020-joseph-story-award
FedSoc Blog: Remarks from the 2020 Joseph Story Awardhttps://fedsoc.org/commentary/fedsoc-blog/remarks-from-the-2020-joseph-story-award

On March 14, 2020, the Federalist Society held its 39th National Student Symposium. The Symposium was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Law School but was rescheduled as a digital conference. The fourth panel discussed "Originalism and Interstate Relations"
The Constitution famously says very little about interstate relations. Writing for the Court in Franchise Tax Board v. Hyatt, Justice Thomas suggested that the Constitution “reflects implicit alterations to the States’ relationships with each other, confirming that they are no longer fully independent nations.” How much of the law of interstate relations is truly settled by the Constitution? As for the rest, what kind of law governs instead? Is it federal or state, general or international, written or unwritten? And what does it provide?
This panel examines what originalism has to say, if anything, about questions of “horizontal federalism”—such as personal jurisdiction, choice of law, full faith and credit, extraterritorial regulation, state borders, sovereign immunity, and other areas of interstate dispute. How did the Founders understand these questions, either before the Constitution or after? What duties do the fifty states owe one another? And what are the roles of Congress and the courts in determining the answers?

Prof. William P. Baude, Professor of Law and Aaron Director Research Scholar, University of Chicago Law School
Prof. Douglas Laycock, Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
Prof. Stephen E. Sachs, Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law
Moderator: Hon. David R. Stras, United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

On March 14, 2020, the Federalist Society held its 39th National Student Symposium. The Symposium was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Law School but was rescheduled as a digital conference. The third panel discussed the question "Do Changing Norms Undermine Support for Our System of Government?".
Norms range from having quasi-constitutional force to simply being generally accepted modes of conduct that are more easily broken. Such norms include: The Supreme Court has nine members; Congress invites the President for the State of the Union message; the Senate acts on nominees; children are left alone in political campaigns; and the press ignores old sexual peccadilloes. In the area of congressional action, major new legislation historically required bipartisan support, but this did not occur with the Affordable Care Act. There are now battles over recess appointments for political purposes as opposed to the practical purpose of filling positions when Congress is in recess. Is there generally less self-restraint and more willingness to achieve short-term goals by whatever means with less respect for process? If so, does that pose a serious threat to our Constitution, and what might be done about it?

Prof. David E. Bernstein, University Professor and the Executive Director, Liberty & Law Center, Antonin Scalia Law School
Dean Vikram D. Amar, Dean and Iwan Foundation Professor of Law, University of Illinois College of Law
Prof. Keith E. Whittington, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Princeton University
Dean Evan H. Caminker, Dean Emeritus and Branch Rickey Collegiate Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
Moderator: Hon. Chad A. Readler, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speakers.

On March 14, 2020, the Federalist Society held its 39th National Student Symposium. The Symposium was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Law School but was rescheduled as a digital conference. Hon. Paul D. Clement offered the keynote address.
Featuring:

Hon. Paul D. Clement, Former Solicitor General of the United States; Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Distinguished‎ Lecturer in Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Introduction: Mr. Eugene B. Meyer, President and CEO, The Federalist Society

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

On March 14, 2020, the Federalist Society held its 39th National Student Symposium. The Symposium was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Law School but was rescheduled as a digital conference. The second panel explored "The Proper Role of the Senate".
Much has changed concerning the Senate since the adoption of the Constitution. It is now directly elected. The nature of its power has changed with the passage of the 16th Amendment. And its unique role in confirmations and treaties and the nature of its role protecting smaller states all have undergone much discussion. The Senate has always played a key role in balancing purely democratic power. It has also protected the states and possibly served to defuse otherwise hostile geographical battles. Does or should this role change in our modern democracy? If so, how?

Prof. Lynn A. Baker, Frederick M. Baron Chair in Law and Co-Director of the Center on Lawyers, Civil Justice and the Media, University of Texas at Austin School of Law
Prof. Sanford V. Levinson, W. St. John Garwood and W. St. John Garwood, Jr. Centennial Chair in Law, University of Texas at Austin School of Law
Ms. Amanda Neely, General Counsel, Office of Senator Rob Portman
Prof. John Yoo, Emanuel Heller Professor of Law and director of the Korea Law Center, University of California at Berkeley School of Law
Moderator: Hon. Raymond M. Kethledge, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speakers.

On March 14, 2020, the Federalist Society held its 39th National Student Symposium. The Symposium was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Law School but was rescheduled as a digital conference. The first panel covered The Compact Clause.
The Compact Clause has received extra attention recently because of the Electoral College and the proposed state compact concerning the popular vote, but that is far from the only use of the compact clause. There are currently 200 active interstate compacts ranging from the significant to the almost trivial. The environment, metropolitan transportation authorities, and waterways are a few major areas where compacts are frequent. What can compacts properly cover? When are they constitutionally forbidden? When permitted, when do they promote good public policy, and what are the dangers posed by their use?

Prof. Michael S. Greve, Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School
Prof. Roderick M. Hills, Jr., William T. Comfort, III Professor of Law, New York University School of Law
Prof. Jonathan H. Adler, Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Business Law & Regulation at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Moderator: Mr. Eugene B. Meyer, President and CEO, The Federalist Society

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speakers.

On January 30-31, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its annual National Lawyers Convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The topic of the convention was "Changing the Law: The Role of Lawyers, Judges, and Legislators". The final panel of the convention was a "Workshop on Problems of Insider Trading and Merger Regulations".
Featuring:

Dean Henry Manne, George Mason University Law School
Joseph Grundfest, Commissioner, Securities Exchange Commission
Hon. Pasco Bowman, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Prof. Saul Levmore, Yale Law School
Moderator: John Bolton, Assistant Attorney General of the United States, Office of Legislative Affairs
Introduction: William Bradford Reynolds, Assistant Attorney General of the United States

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speakers.

On January 30-31, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its annual National Lawyers Convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The topic of the convention was "Changing the Law: The Role of Lawyers, Judges, and Legislators". The fourth panel occurred on the second day of the convention, discussing "The Open-Ended Clauses of the Constitution: Due Process, Privileges or Immunities, the Guarantee Clause and the Ninth Amendment".
Featuring:

Prof. Lino Graglia, University of Texas Law School
Floyd Abrams, Cahill, Gordon & Reindel
Hon. Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Morton Halperin, ACLU
Moderator: Hon. Stephen Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
Introduction: William Bradford Reynolds, Assistant Attorney General of the United States

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speakers.

On January 30, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its annual National Lawyers Convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Attorney General Edwin Meese III delivered the keynote speech.

Master of Ceremonies: T. Kenneth Cribb, Presidential Advisor, Domestic Affairs
Introduction: William Bradford Reynolds, Assistant Attorney General of the United States
Hon. Edwin Meese III, Attorney General of the United States

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.