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2007 National Student Symposium

Law & Morality

February 23 — 24, 2007

In June 2003, the United States Supreme Court struck down Texas’s anti-sodomy statute as a violation of the Due Process Clause of the Constitution, reversing the 17-year-old precedent of Bowers v. Hardwick.  In this watershed decision, both Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion and Justice O’Connor’s concurrence appear to adopt the broad principle that the moral viewpoint of the majority provides an insufficient and even irrational basis to uphold a law.  In dissent, Justice Scalia disagreed.  But who is right?

The question of the role of morality in the law is no longer solely a question for legal academics and philosophers; it is now broadcast on our nightly news.  With emotions running high and advocacy groups spending millions to mobilize their infantries in the so-called “culture wars,” the questions surrounding morality’s role in the law have assumed a central position within the national dialogue.  And this debate extends far beyond Lawrence and the same-sex marriage controversy.

Northwestern University School of Law and its Federalist Society chapter are honored to be hosting the 2007 Student Symposium.  This year is especially significant to the Federalist Society as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the organization.  If you have attended the Federalist Society symposia in the past, you undoubtedly have come to expect the highest level of respectful debate in any area of the law.  This weekend we hope you, as before, engage each panel by asking insightful questions and debate with each other what you learn throughout the weekend.  Thank you for joining us for what is bound to be an exciting weekend of exploring the many intersections between law and morality.

–Symposium Committee, Northwestern University School of Law Federalist Society

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5:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Federalist Society
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 23 & 24, 2007.  Opening remarks were delivered by Northwestern University School of Law Student Chapter President Dennis Murashko and Prof. Steven Calabresi of Northwestern University School of Law.

  • Prof. Steven G. Calabresi, Northwestern University School of Law
  • Mr. Dennis Murashko, Northwestern Law School Student Chapter President

Speakers

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Debate: Religion in the Public Square

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Constitution • Culture • Founding Era & History • Philosophy • Religious Liberty • Religious Liberties
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented this debate at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 23, 2007.

  • Mr. Kevin J. Hasson, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
  • Rev. Dr. Michael Newdow, Restore our Pledge of Allegiance
  • Moderator: Hon. David McIntosh, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw

Speakers

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Panel I: What is Morality? The Philosophical and Theological Foundations of Moral Debate

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Culture • Founding Era & History • Philosophy • Religious Liberty • Religious Liberties
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented this panel at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 23, 2007.

  • Prof. John S. Baker, Jr., Louisiana State University
  • Prof. Randy E. Barnett, Georgetown University
  • Prof. Robert Burns, Northwestern University
  • Prof. Michael J. Perry, Emory University
  • Moderator: Prof. Richard Garnett, University of Chicago

Speakers

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9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Panel II: Moral Choices and the Eighth Amendment

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Constitution • Criminal Law & Procedure • Founding Era & History • Philosophy • Religious Liberty • Religious Liberties
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented this panel at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 24, 2007.

  • Prof. Ron Allen, Northwestern University
  • Prof. Michael S. Moore, University of Illinois
  • Prof. Laurence P. Claus, University of San Diego
  • Moderator: Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Speakers

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Debate: Same-Sex Marriage: Marriage, Public Policy, and the Constitution

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Civil Rights • Constitution • Culture • Politics • Religious Liberty • Religious Liberties
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented this debate at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 24, 2007.

  • Prof. Louis Michael Seidman, Georgetown University
  • Prof. Amy Wax, University of Pennsylvania
  • Moderator: Judge Diane S. Sykes, United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Speakers

2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Panel III: Government Promotion of Moral Issues

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Constitution • Culture • Federalism • First Amendment • Philosophy • Politics • Religious Liberty • Separation of Powers • Federalism & Separation of Powers • Religious Liberties
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented this panel at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 24, 2007.

  • Prof. Lillian R. BeVier, University of Virginia
  • Prof. G. Marcus Cole, Stanford University
  • Prof. Lino A. Graglia, University of Texas
  • Prof. Steven Lubet, Northwestern University
  • Moderator: Prof. Steven Calabresi, Northwestern University

Speakers

4:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Panel IV: Morality of First Amendment Jurisprudence

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Constitution • Culture • Federal Courts • First Amendment • Founding Era & History • Jurisprudence • Philosophy • Religious Liberty • Supreme Court • Religious Liberties
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The Federalist Society's Student Division presented this panel at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium on February 24, 2007.

  • Prof. Andrew Koppelman, Northwestern University
  • Prof. John McGinnis, Northwestern University
  • Mrs. Phyllis Schlafly, Eagle Forum
  • Prof. Geoffrey Stone, University of Chicago
  • Moderator: Prof. Orin Kerr, George Washington University
 

Speakers

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Banquet Keynote Address by Judge William Pryor

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Constitution • Federal Courts • Federalist Society • Founding Era & History
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit delivered the Keynote Address at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium Banquet on February, 24, 2007.

  • Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • Introduced by: Mr. Eugene B. Meyer, President of the Federalist Society

Speakers

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Banquet: 2007 Bator Award Presentation

2007 National Student Symposium

Topics: Federalist Society
Northwestern University School of Law
375 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

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The 2007 Paul M. Bator Award was awarded to Professor Orin Kerr on February 24, 2007, at the 2007 Annual Student Symposium held at Northwestern University School of Law.

  • Prof. Orin Kerr, George Washington University
  • Introduced by: Mr. William Rothwell, University of Chicago Law School Student Chapter

Speakers

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