American Constitution Society News

Law School's ACS Named Student Chapter of the Week

vmsmit06 — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:25:22 -0400

Throughout the academic year, the American Constitution Society Student Chapters Department honors a Student Chapter of the Week each week. The chapter is featured on the ACS website and in the ACS weekly bulletin. The Student Chapters of the Week are chapters that have held exceptional programming, have aligned themselves with the priorities of the national office or have established themselves as a premier student group on campus.

The ACS University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Student Chapter, under the guidance of Faculty Advisors Professor Sam Marcosson and Professor Luke Milligan, recently concluded another successful semester. First, the chapter hosted attorney Tim Arnold, the public advocate who represented José Padilla in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Kentucky v. Padilla. Mr. Arnold engaged students and faculty in a discussion on the “Intersection of Indigent Defense and Immigration.” Next, the chapter, in conjunction with the ACS Kentucky Lawyer Chapter, hosted Congressman John Yarmuth and Georgia State University Law Professor Neil J. Kinkopf for a stimulating discussion on “Gun Control Reform and the Constitution.” In March, the Louisville chapter continued its programming with a discussion on “DOMA and Marriage Equality in 2013,” led by LGTBQ family law attorney Nicole Kersting, and a “Government and Constitutional Law Jobs Panel” co-sponsored with the ACLU-Kentucky student chapter for the law school’s career fair. This panel featured attorney Amy Cubbage, who was involved in litigating the Louisville portion of Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District, as well as Executive Director at the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General Clay Barkley. Finally, in April, Louisville Law Professor Cedric Merlin Powell offered his insights on the Voting Rights Act, Shelby County v. Holder,and the Roberts’ Court’s post-racial constitutionalism. The program was co-sponsored by the law school’s BLSA chapter.

The Louisville chapter has continued to forge connections between students, lawyers, and judges by building a strong partnership and working together with the ACS Kentucky Lawyer chapter. In addition, the chapter has also continued to foster relationships between its members with social events, as well as with other student organizations, such as Lambda Law Caucus, BLSA, and the Environmental Law and Land Use Society.

Source: "Student Chapter of the Week May 24: University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law"

Congratulations to the new ACS board!

mlwein05 — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:17:12 -0400

President - Jessica Homer
VP - Wes Pagles
Treasurer - Kevin Coleman
Secretary - Jennifer Pence
Program Chair - Tara Adkins
Membership Chair - Andrea Aikin
Director of Media and Public Relations - Chris Salsman

ACS Student Chapter 2013-2014 Elections

mlwein05 — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:29:56 -0400

ACS annual elections today at noon in room LL80. Any returning law student is eligible to hold office.

Below is a brief description of the available offices:

President: The President shall call ACS meetings, coordinate the operations and direction of the ACS, and serve as a liaison between the ACS and the U of L administration.

Vice-President: The Vice-President shall call ACS meetings in the President's absence and coordinate the activities of the chairpersons.

Secretary: The Secretary shall compile and maintain the minutes of meetings and the records of the organization, keep a current list of members, and be responsible for notifying members of meetings.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall maintain the financial accounts and records of the ACS, set forth the ACS's budget, submit the ACS‘s financial reports to the Student Bar Association according to SBA guidelines, submit event receipts to ACS for member reimbursable.

Membership Chairperson: The Membership Chairperson shall organize a membership drive in the fall and shall organize additional membership drives as needed to recruit new members.

Program Chairperson: The Program Chairperson shall plan and organize the events throughout the year with the assistance of other board members.

We will have a brief question and answer session regarding the positions prior to voting. Free pizza from Tony Boombozz.

Do we still need the Voting Rights Act or are we living in a post-racial society?

mlwein05 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:38:44 -0400

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments regarding the 1965 Voting Rights Act in the pivotal case Shelby County v. Holder. The issue before the Court was the whether Congress’ decision in 2006 to reauthorize Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act exceeded its authority. Join ACS, BLSA, and Constitutional lawProfessor Cedric Powell to discuss the Shelby County case, the history of the the VRA and its relevance today, and his theories on the Robert's court post-racial constitutionalism where the Court is signaling that formal racism has ended and there is no need to employ race-conscious remedies. Today, 12:00, Room 175. Lunch will be provided by Taco Punk.

Interested in the Future of the Voting Rights Act and Post-Racial Policy?

mlwein05 — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:04:42 -0400

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments regarding the 1965 Voting Rights Act in the pivotal case Shelby County v. Holder. The issue before the Court was the whether Congress’ decision in 2006 to reauthorize Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act exceeded its authority under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments thus violating the Tenth Amendment and Article IV. Join ACS, BLSA, and Constitutional law Professor Cedric Powell to discuss the Shelby County case, the history of the the VRA and its relevance today, and his theories on the Robert's court post-racial constitutionalism (including Parents Involved and Ricci) where the Court signals that formal racism has ended and there is no need to employ race-conscious remedies. Professor Powell has written over a broad range of topics including affirmative action and Critical Race Theory. His current research focuses on developing an analytical framework for critiquing post-racial neutrality under the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII. Thursday, 12:00, Room 175. Lunch will be provided by Taco Punk.

DOMA: A Look at Marriage Equality in 2013 - TODAY

mlwein05 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:19:10 -0400

Join ACS and attorney Nicole Kersting for a discussion on the DOMA suits pending before the Supreme Court, marriage equality on a local and national level, and what potential actions can be anticipated in the future to address individual state bans such as the 2004 KY Constitutional amendment. If time permits, she will also be discussing pending KY legislature HB 279 and the potential civil rights implications.

Nicole Kersting was the president of University of Louisville's Lambda Law Caucus during law school, she is a member Coordinating Committee with the Fairness Campaign, the Statewide Fairness Steering Committee, and was featured as a Commentator on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. She currently practices family law with Derenzo Durrett, PLLC, and works as an activist in the gay community to advance the rights of LGBTQ individuals and families in the state of Kentucky. TODAY, 12:00, Rm. 175, FREE QDOBA!

DOMA and Marriage Equality in 2013

mlwein05 — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:29:17 -0400

Join ACS and attorney Nicole Kersting for a discussion on the DOMA suits pending before the Supreme Court. Ms. Kersting will be discussing marriage equality on a local and national level and what potential actions can be anticipated in the future to address individual state bans such as the 2004 KY Constitutional amendment.

Nicole Kersting was the president of University of Louisville's Lambda Law Caucus during law school, she is a member Coordinating Committee with the Fairness Campaign, the Statewide Fairness Steering Committee, and was featured as a Commentator on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. She currently practices family law with Derenzo Durrett, PLLC, and works as an activist in the gay community to advance the rights of LGBTQ individuals and families in the state of Kentucky. This Tuesday, March 19, 12:00, Room 175. FREE QDOBA.

TODAY - Congressman Yarmuth speaking on gun control legislation in Room 275

mlwein05 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:37:38 -0500

Please join the Kentucky Lawyer Chapter and University of Louisville School of Law Student Chapter of the American Constitution Society as well as the Public Interest Section of the Louisville Bar Association as we welcome Congressman John Yarmuth and Georgia State College of Law Professor Neil Kinkopf to discuss the politics and constitutional implications of Congress’ efforts to strengthen our nation’s gun laws.

Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY)
Third Congressional District of Kentucky

Neil J. Kinkopf

Professor of Law, Georgia State University College of Law; Former Special Assistant, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice; Member, Board of Advisors, ACS Georgia Lawyer Chapter

Congressman Yarmuth, who has been in the national spotlight for his support of federal proposals to help reduce gun violence, will provide insight into legislation pending before Congress – including universal background checks and restrictions on high-capacity ammunition magazines and assault weapons. He will also discuss his work on the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

Professor Kinkopf will discuss the constitutionality of the pending measures and whether there is a danger of running afoul of the Second Amendment.

The discussion will attempt to navigate the controversial issues shaping the debate, including whether the politics surrounding gun laws are too divisive for legitimate reform, the proposed legislation can withstand the Supreme Court's decision in D.C. v. Heller (2008), and regulations of this nature can truly be effective in curbing gun violence in the United States.

Friday, February 22, 2013

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Room 275

Box lunches will be provided from Stevens and Stevens Deli to the first 80 attendees

Gun Control: Discussion with Congressman John Yarmuth and Professor Neil Kinkopf - TOMORROW

mlwein05 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:58:42 -0500

Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY)
Third Congressional District of Kentucky

Neil J. Kinkopf

Professor of Law, Georgia State University College of Law; Former Special Assistant, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice; Member, Board of Advisors, ACS Georgia Lawyer Chapter

Professor Kinkopf will discuss the constitutionality of the pending measures and whether there is a danger of running afoul of the Second Amendment.

Friday, February 22, 2013

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Room 275

Box lunches will be provided from Stevens and Stevens Deli

U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth Speaking at the Law School on Gun Control Legislation - FRIDAY

mlwein05 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:12:15 -0500

John Yarmuth, D-KY

Please join ACS and the Public Interest Section of the Louisville Bar Association as we welcome Congressman John Yarmuth and Georgia State College of Law Professor Neil Kinkopf to discuss the politics and constitutional implications of Congress’ efforts to strengthen our nation’s gun laws.

Professor Kinkopf will discuss the constitutionality of the pending measures and whether there is a danger of running afoul of the Second Amendment.