Speaker, New Jersey Institute Continuing Legal Education, "Prof. Akhil Amar on the Courts and the Constitution 2024"

Events

December 7, 2023 | 9:00 AM - December 7, 2023 | 12:00 PM EST

Join Prof. Akhil Reed Amar, the Yale University Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science and star of the podcast “Amarica’s Constitution,” for a thoughtful and lively discussion of the United States Supreme Court’s last 12 months.

Rare Insights from a Recognized Thought Leader
Join the NJSBA for a fascinating, fast-paced, and entertaining conversation with internationally renowned constitutional expert Professor Akhil Reed Amar. As an attendee, you’ll hear his unique perspectives and analysis into the most controversial cases of the Supreme Court’s recent term, as well as insights from his latest book, “The Words that Made Us – America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840.”

It has been a busy and controversial year for the Court. Here are just a few of the holdings from the last few months:

  • Harvard’s and UNC’s admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment – Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. V. President and Fellows of Harvard College
  • The First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing a website designer to create expressive designs [for an LGBTQ couple] with which the designer disagrees. –303 Creative LLC Et Al. V. Elenis Et Al
  • In a rejection of ISL (Independent State Legislature) theory and with an opinion that has been called “one of the most important democracy cases in national history,” the Court held that the Elections Clause of the Constitution does not vest exclusive and independent authority in state legislatures to set the rules regarding federal elections. –Moore vs. Harper In other words, state legislatures cannot enact federal election laws without any checks and balances.

All of these cases, plus others from the Courts’ recent term, raise questions about the Constitution and how it practically applies to issues that affect our lives and the lives of our clients.