MR. AMMEEN: The fortunate timing of this conference is not a coincidence. Knowing that the Supreme Court would hand down its decision this week, we have assembled a panel of distinguished scholars and experts on religious liberties and constitutional law with respect to school choice. We will hear opening statements from each of the panelists and then the panelists will take questions from the audience. Professor Steve Green is a professor of Law at Willamette College of Law. Professor Green served for nine years as
General Counsel and Director of Public Policy for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He has extensive litigation and appellate experience in First Amendment law and has participated in several cases at the U.S. Supreme Court. Professor Green holds a J.D. from the University of Texas, and a M.A. and Ph.D in American Constitutional and Religious History from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Richard Komer is senior litigation attorney for the Institute for Justice. Prior to his work at the Institute, Mr. Komer worked as a civil rights lawyer for the federal government, working at the Departments of Education and Justice, as well as at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a Special Assistant to the Chairman, Clarence Thomas. His most recent government employment was as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Mr. Komer received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1978, and his B.A. from Harvard College in 1974.