The Institute for Legislative and Governmental Affairs played host to the 25th Annual United States Supreme Court Review Conference on October 13, 2020.
The Supreme Court Review Conference featured School of Law faculty examining important Supreme Court decisions issued during the 2019-2020 Term and focuses on the pivotal role played by Chief Justice Roberts. Speakers at the virtual event included Professor Bridgette Baldwin, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Erin Buzuvis, Professor Emeritus Leora Harpaz, Professor Jennifer Levi, and Professor Emeritus Bruce Miller.
Professor Miller led off the discussion by speaking about two subpoena cases seeking access to President Trump's financial records and tax returns. Next, Professor Baldwin discussed Ramos v. Louisiana, interpreting the Sixth Amendment to require a unanimous jury verdict. Professor Levi spoke about the decision interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as the Court's decision finding a Louisiana abortion law to be unconstitutional. Dean Buzuvis talked about two important administrative law decisions: the Court's decision preventing, at least for the time being, the Trump administration from rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as well as an important separation of powers case striking down limits on the President's ability to remove the head of an administrative agency. Finally, Professor Harpaz discussed the three religious liberty cases decided this Term, which show the Court moving toward a more aggressive protection of religious liberty over secular interests.
An interactive panel discussion to assess the Term as a whole followed the individual presentations. View Recording.
