FedSoc Events

On April 3, 1987, the University of Chicago chapter hosted the Sixth Annual National Student Symposium. The Symposium featured a panel on the topic, "The Classical Theory of Law."

Introductory Remarks:

Janice Calabresi, University of Chicago Law School, Federalist Society Chapter President
Dean-Designate Geoffrey Stone, University of Chicago Law School
Panel Featuring:

Prof. Norman P. Barry, The University of Buckingham Law School
Prof. Richard Epstein, University of Chicago Law School
Prof. Gary Peller, University of Virginia School of Law
Moderator: Dean-Designate Geoffrey Stone, University of Chicago Law School

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

On Friday, May 18, 2018, the Regulatory Transparency Project and Capitol Hill Chapter of the Federalist Society co-sponsored a panel discussion on emerging technology legislation. Experts explored drone delivery, autonomous vehicles, flight sharing, and more.
Featuring:

Ryan Hagemann, Director of Technology Policy, Niskanen Center
Christopher L. Koopman, Senior Director of Strategy and Research, The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University
Gregory S. McNeal, Professor of Law and Public Policy, Pepperdine University School of Law
Brent Skorup, Senior Research Fellow, Technology Policy Program, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Introduction: Devon Westill, Director, Regulatory Transparency Project, The Federalist Society

Co-Hosted by the Regulatory Transparency Project (https://regproject.org) & the Capitol Hill Chapter of the Federalist Society

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel delivered the luncheon address at the Inaugural Wisconsin Lawyers Chapters Conference in Madison, Wisconsin on May 4, 2018.

Hon. Brad D. Schimel, Wisconsin Attorney General
Introduction: Robert Driscoll, Milwaukee Chapter President, The Federalist Society

Justice Brennan’s 1977 article “State Constitutions and the Protection of Individual Rights,” provoked many litigators to look to the state courts to enhance individual liberties beyond the scope of the federal constitution. This came at a time when the conservative legal movement developed out of a perception that the Warren Court and its successors had gone too far, with courts holding an influence far too powerful in American life. They called for a more restrained view of the judicial role, while those on the left looked to state courts to assert their role in protecting individual rights. This sparked a New Federalism that embraced more active and robust efforts to achieve litigation-oriented outcomes through state constitutional litigation. In recent years, many in the conservative legal movement have also come to embrace state constitutions as separate documents that best protect both individual and economic liberty. This panel will offer a historical overview of these trends as well as offer perspectives of the role of state constitutions from the federal and state bench.
The Inaugural Wisconsin Lawyers Chapters Conference was held on May 4, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Panelists:

Hon. Stephen Markman, Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
Joseph Ranney, Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School & Shareholder, DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
Hon. Jeffrey Sutton, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Moderator: Hon. Brian K. Hagedorn, Wisconsin Court of Appeals

This panel examined judicial appointments in Wisconsin and at the federal level. Panelists will discuss the characteristics executives should seek in judicial nominees as well as the approaches used to select those nominees. Topics include the Governor's selection methods, the president's selection methods, blue slips, and possible reforms to the federal judicial selection process.
The Inaugural Wisconsin Lawyers Chapters Conference was held on May 4, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Panelists:

Katie Ignatowski, Chief Legal Counsel, Office of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Ryan Owens, Professor of Political Science; Affiliated Faculty, University of Wisconsin Law School
Carrie Severino, Chief Counsel and Policy Director, Judicial Crisis Network
Moderator: Andrew Hitt, Chairman, Governor’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee

This panel debated perspectives from both sides of two important national discussions: the debate over free speech on campus and the debate over whether certain wedding-related services are speech or public accommodation. The panelists touched upon First Amendment controversies both on a national level and other free speech controversies in Wisconsin.
The Inaugural Wisconsin Lawyers Chapters Conference was held on May 4, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Opening Remarks:

Robert Driscoll, Milwaukee Chapter President, The Federalist Society

Panelists:

Rick Esenberg, Founder, President, and General Counsel for the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
Jordan Lorence, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom
Lester Pines, Senior Partner, Pines Bach
Howard Schweber, Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Moderator: Misha Tseytlin, Solicitor General, State of Wisconsin

On September 9, 1988, then-presidential candidate Ron Paul spoke on a panel at the Federalist Society's second Annual Lawyers Convention on "Improving National Drug Policy."

There has been an increasingly loud tide of opinion of late that our nation's current policy toward illicit drugs is not working. Proposed solutions range from the deployment of full-scale military force, to greater and more systematic application of the laws already on the books, to legalization. This panel will discuss a wide range of possible ways to strengthen or alter the status quo.

Featuring:

Dr. Ron Paul, Presidential Candidate, Libertarian Party
Richard Cohen, The Washington Post
Richard Willard, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Moderator: Dr. Jeff Eisenach, The Heritage Foundation
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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 May 2, 2018, the Montgomery Federalist Society and Faulkner University hosted candidates running for the Alabama Office of Attorney General in the 2018 primary elections on campus for an informational forum. Allen Mendenhall, Ph.D., the president of the Montgomery Federalist Society, associate dean of Faulkner’s Jones School of Law and executive director of The Blackstone and Burke Center of Law and Liberty moderated the forum.
All candidates had been invited to participate. Each candidate was introduced and was given a few minutes to speak to the public and their constituents on their platform, policies and beliefs. They also fielded questions from Mendenhall.
Featuring:

Chess Bedsole, Former Criminal Court Judge & Senior Counsel to DOJ
Chris Christie, Former Trial Lawyer, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Alice Martin, Former Alabama Chief Deputy & Deputy Attorney General
Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General
Moderator: Allen Mendenhall, Associate Dean and Executive Director, Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty, Faulkner University

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

On March 6, 1988, Hon. Robert H. Bork spoke to the Federalist Society's National Student Symposium at the University of Virginia. Judge Bork discussed the campaign against his recently failed Supreme Court nomination and its implications for future judicial nominations, constitutional law, politics, and culture.
As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speakers.
Featuring:

Hon. Robert H. Bork, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
Hon. T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr., Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs
Hon. David M. McIntosh, Domestic Policy Council