This is the event for you. Two years ago in the landmark case Padilla v. Kentucky, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the 6th Amendment requires criminal defense attorneys to advise their non-citizen clients about the immigration consequences of a plea. The impact of this decision has caused waves in the fields of both criminal defense and immigration law and the full aftermath has not yet been fully realized. 

Tim Arnold has represented Jose Padilla either as lead or co-counsel through his case and before the U.S. Supreme Court, and continues to represent him before the state court on remand where the case is now pending. Mr. Arnold has been with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy since 1996 and currently serves as the Post-Trial Division Director. Join ACS and Tim Arnold to discuss the implications of the Padilla decision, its application moving forward, and how it will shape the role of criminal defense attorneys. Tuesday, February 19, 12:00. Room 175. Lunch will be provided from Jason's Deli.  

This is the event for you. Two years ago in the landmark case Padilla v. Kentucky, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment requires that defense attorneys advise their noncitizen clients about the immigration consequences of a plea. The Court recognized what, for decades, the defense and immigration bars have known: competent defense counsel must advise about immigration consequences of a plea. 

Tim Arnold has represented José Padilla either as lead counsel or co-counsel through the U.S. Supreme Court, and he continues to represent Mr. Padilla on remand to the state court, where the case is now pending. He began his career with Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) in the Juvenile Post-Dispositional Branch in 1996, and served as Manager of that branch from 2003 to 2008. He has served as DPA’s Post-Trial Division Director since 2008. Join ACS and Tim Arnold as we discuss the implications from the Padilla decision, applications moving forward, and how this decision will shape the role of criminal defense attorneys. 12:00, Room 175 - Free lunch from Jason's Deli. 

Please join the American Constitution Society and the office of Professional Development for a panel of attorneys from the community who are using the law as a force to improve people's lives. 

Each attorney will tell you about their job and how they got where they are now and answer any questions you might have. 

If you are interested in disability law, criminal defense, housing, labor law, or indigent consumer representation this panel is for you! This Thursday, 5:15 p.m., room LL75. Pizza will be served. 

Join the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society for a debate on the upcoming United States Supreme Court decision: Fisher v. University of Texas.  Two leading national scholars on Constitutional law, Professor Blumstein of Vanderbilt Law School and Professor Marcosson of University of Louisville Brandesis School of Law, will debate on whether the Supreme Court’s decisions interpreting the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, including Grutter v. Bollinger, permits the University of Texas's use of race in undergraduate admissions decisions. Today at 12:00, Room 275. Free Qdoba!

Join the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society to discuss whether the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission undermines democracy. Speakers Professor Bradley Smith and John Bonifaz will debate the topic of whether unrestricted campaign contributions are an exercise of free speech necessary to preserve democracy or a distortion of the political process that damages democracy.

Bradley Smith holds the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law position at CapitalUniversity Law School. A 2010 recipient of the Bradley Prize, he is one of the nation’s leading authorities on election law and campaign finance. In 2000, he was nominated by President Clinton to fill a Republican-designated seat on the Federal Election Commission, where he served for five years, including serving as Chairman of the Commission in 2004. 

John Bonifaz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Free Speech For People. Mr. Bonifaz has served as the Legal Director of Voter Action, a national voting rights and election integrity organization in the United States. Prior to joining Voter Action, Mr. Bonifaz worked for more than 12 years (as the executive director and then general counsel) with the National Voting Rights Institute (NVRI).

Monday, October 29, 12:00, Room 275. Free Potbelly Sandwiches. 

This is 40th year of Kentcky's DPA and the 50th anniversary of Gideon is approaching. Join ACS and Kentucky's Public Advocate Ed Monahan to discuss the constitutional right to counsel and why it remains important. Ed Monahan is Kentucky Public Advocate of the Department of Public Advocacy, Kentucky's statewide public defender program representing 161,000 clients in Kentucky's 120 counties at trial and post-trial. He is Chair of the American Council of Chief Defenders, the nation's chief defenders. Monahan was co-counsel in Gall v. Parker, 231 F.3d 265 (6th Cir. 2000) and Kordenbrock v. Scroggy, 919 F.2d 1091 (6th Cir. 1990) (en banc) both decisions found the death sentences unconstitutional. Monahan was counsel in Binion v. Commonwealth, 891 S.W.2d 383 (Ky. 1995) (constitutional right to mental health expert). This Tuesday, October 23, 12:00. Room 175. Lunch will be served from Zaytun. 

Felony disenfranchisement takes away the ability to vote for more than five million Americans. While the majority of states prohibit currently-incarcerated felons and those on probation from voting, most states remove restrictions on the ability of felons to vote after they have completed serving their sentence.  

In 2011, however, executive action by the governors of Iowa and Illinois effectively reinstituted permanent disenfranchisement policies, joining Virginia and Kentucky in permanently disenfranchising felons. What rationale supports requiring felons to “earn” the right the vote after having completed their sentences? What links does felony enfranchisement have with efforts to combat recidivism? Is there significance in the disproportionate impact felony disenfranchisement laws have on the African American community?

Join ACS, BLSA, and Professor Cedric Powell this Tuesday, October 16, at noon, to discuss these issues and how they laws impact Kentucky and democracy as a whole.  Free pizza from Papalinos.