UA Constitution Day Examines Notable 2015 Supreme Court Cases, Scalia’s Legacy

Sept. 7, 2016

Legal experts will assemble for the University of Arizona’s 18th annual Constitution Day program to explore three of the most significant cases from the 2015 Supreme Court term in addition to the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s influence on the court and the law.
 
Panelists will discuss cases involving race-conscious university admissions, abortion regulations, and federal immigration authority. The event is hosted by the William H. Rehnquist Center at the UA James E. Rogers College of Law.
 
When: Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, 1-4:30 p.m.
Where: Ares Auditorium (Room 164), James E. Rogers College of Law, 1201 E. Speedway Boulevard
Who may attend: The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, and registration is recommended. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit may be available.
 
The panel will discuss several decisions including:

  • Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, in which the court affirmed that the race-conscious admissions program used by the university is lawful under the Equal Protection Clause.
  • Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, in which the court ruled that two provisions in a Texas law were unconstitutional because they constituted an undue burden on abortion access.
  • United States v. Texas, in which the court divided equally, thus affirming an appeals court ruling blocking President Obama’s immigration plan.

Panelists are: Justice Clint Bolick, Arizona Supreme Court; Greg Garre, global chair of Supreme Court and appellate practice at Latham & Watkins; Lisa Manheim, assistant professor of law, University of Washington School of Law; and Robert Yablon, assistant professor of law, University of Wisconsin Law School. David Marcus, UA professor of law, will moderate.
 
The event is being held in conjunction with the nationwide commemoration of the Sept. 17 signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Federal legislation mandates that all educational institutions receiving federal funding hold an educational program on the U.S. Constitution on or near Constitution Day on Sept. 17.
 
The Rehnquist Center is dedicated to encouraging scholarship about, and public understanding of, the separation of powers, the balance of powers between the federal and state governments, and judicial independence.
 

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Event Contact: Bernadette Wilkinson, senior program coordinator, UA College of Law, 520-626-1629, bwilkins@email.arizona.edu.