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First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Changing the Law: The Role of Lawyers, Judges and Legislators

January 30 — 31, 1987

On January 30-31, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its First Annual National Lawyers Convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

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1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Opening Address by Vice President George H.W. Bush [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Constitution • Federalism • Federalist Society • Foreign Policy • Separation of Powers
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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On January 30th, 1987, The Federalist Society hosted its first annual National Lawyers Convention. The convention opened with a keynote address by Vice President George H.W. Bush. 

Featuring:

  • Steven G. Calabresi, Co-Chairman, The Federalist Society
  • William Bradford Reynolds, Assistant Attorney General and Convention Chairman
  • C. Boyden Gray, Legal Counsel to the Vice President
  • Hon. George H.W. Bush, Vice President 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.

Speakers

2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Panel I: Models of Common Law Decision Making

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Address on Judges and the Law [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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On January 30-31, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its first-ever national lawyers convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The conference featured an address by Dr. Thomas Sowell on "Judges and the Law"

Featuring:

  • Introduction: William Bradford Reynolds, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice
  • Dr. Thomas Sowell, Hoover Institute
4:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Panel II: Methods of Statutory Construction [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Constitution • Federal Courts • Philosophy • State Courts • Supreme Court
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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On January 30-31, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its first-ever national lawyers convention at the Mayflower Hotel. The conference featured a panel on the timeless topic, "Methods of Statutory Construction."

Featuring: 

  • Hon. Antonin Scalia, United States Supreme Court
  • Prof. Laurence Tribe, Harvard Law School
  • Hon. Frank Easterbrook, United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • Hon. Laurence Silberman, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • Moderator: Senator Orrin Hatch, Utah

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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.

Speakers

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Reception

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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7:30 p.m. - 9:50 p.m.
Banquet Speech by Attorney General Edwin Meese III [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Constitution • Federalist Society • Founding Era & History • Jurisprudence • Philosophy • Supreme Court
Grand Ballroom
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

Event Video

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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

* * * * * 

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

Speakers

9:55 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
James Madison Award Presentation [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Constitution • Federalist Society • Founding Era & History • Jurisprudence • Philosophy • Supreme Court
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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On January 30-31, 1987, the Federalist Society hosted its first-ever national lawyers convention at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The first day concluded with a banquet, where the James Madison Award was presented to Attorney General Edwin Meese III.

  • 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

Speakers

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10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Panel III: Precedent, The Amendment Process, and Evolution in Constitutional Doctrine [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Constitution • Founding Era & History • Supreme Court
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Event Video

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Description

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 second day of the convention began with a panel on "Precedent, the Amendment Process, and Evolution in Constitutional Doctrine."

Featuring:

  • Hon. Robert Bork, Unied States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • Prof. Bruce Ackerman, Columbia University
  • Dean Geoffrey R. Stone, University of Chicago Law School
  • Michael Horowitz, Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin
  • Moderator: Arnold Burns, Deputy Attorney General of the United States
  • 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.

Speakers

12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Panel IV: The Open-Ended Clauses of the Constitution: Due Process, Privileges or Immunities, the Guarantee Clause and the Ninth Amendment [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Constitution • Due Process • Founding Era & History • Supreme Court
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Event Video

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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

*******

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

Speakers

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Workshop on Problems of Insider Trading and Merger Regulations [Archive Collection]

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

Topics: Corporations, Securities & Antitrust • Law & Economics
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Event Video

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Description

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

*******

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

Speakers

5:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Closing Reception

First Annual National Lawyers Convention

The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

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