The Nevada Constitution: Individual Liberty & The Criminal Legal System

Campus Location

Description

This is a crucial moment for state constitutions, civil rights, and criminal law. After decades of deference to federal case law, a growing legal movement looks to independently interpret and apply state constitutional rights free from the federalism constraints that bind federal courts, and to rely instead on state-specific text, history, and policies.

This  event will highlight the importance and possibilities of Nevada’s constitution to a broad legal audience, providing both practical guidance and ideas for further research and doctrinal development. The symposium will highlight the importance and possibilities of Nevada’s constitution to a broad legal audience, providing both practical guidance and ideas f or further research and doctrinal development.

Schedule:

8:15 a.m. - Light breakfast and check in
 
9 a.m. - Opening remarks
  • Leah Chan Grinvald - dean, William S. Boyd School of Law
  • Kristen Bell - associate professor of law, faculty director, Public Service and Policy Program, University of Oregon School of Law
  • Meredith Esser - associate professor of law, William S. Boyd School of Law
9:30 a.m. - Mack v. Williams: Possibilities and Pitfalls
  • Moderator: Chris Peterson, ACLU of Nevada
  • Julie Murray - co-director, American Civil Liberties Union’s State Supreme Court Initiative
  • Randy Fiedler - assistant federal public defender, District of Nevada
  • Ben Field - attorney, Institute for Justice
11 a.m. - State Constitutional Limits on Civil Asset Forfeiture
  • Moderator: Frank Rudy Cooper - William S. Boyd professor of law and director of the Program on Race, Gender, and Policing
  • John Fortin - attorney, McDonald & Carano
  • Jordan T. Smith - shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
  • Lisa Rasmussen - attorney, McLetchie Law Group
  • Ben Field - attorney, Institute for Justice
12:15 p.m. - Lunch 
 
1:15 p.m. - State Constitutionalism and Excessive Punishment
  • Moderator: Kristen Bell, associate professor of law, faculty director, Public Service and Policy Program, University of Oregon School of Law
  • Justice Mary I. Yu - Washington Supreme Court (via zoom)
  • Eve Hanan - professor of law, William S. Boyd School of Law
  • Megan Byrne - staff attorney, ACLU Capital Punishment Project 
  • Jeff Ellis - attorney
2:25 p.m. - Views from the Bench: The Judicial Role in State Constitutionalism, Featuring Justices of the Supreme Court of Nevada
  • Moderator: Maryam Ahranjani, professor of law, William S. Boyd School of Law
  • Chief Justice Douglas Herndon
  • Justice Linda Marie Bell
  • Justice Elissa F. Cadish
  • Justice Kristina Pickering
  • Justice Lidia S. Stiglich
4:15 p.m. - Networking reception

Admission Information

Contact Information

William S. Boyd School of Law
Debra Gorov

External Sponsor