The Nevada Constitution: Individual Liberty & The Criminal Legal System Sept. 25

The William S. Boyd School of Law invites faculty to attend: The Nevada Constitution: Individual Liberty & The Criminal Legal System

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 Fderal 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 (provided with registration)

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

Registration is required:

In person registration

Zoom webinar registration

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