CONSTITUTIONAL LAW & RELATED FIELDS

National Constitution Center

Penn Law is a major player in the partnership that was established in 1997 between the National Constitution Center (NCC) and The University of Pennsylvania. Starting with our housing the NCC's original website on the Law School's server, the partnership has expanded tremendously since the NCC opened in 2003.

Here are several highlights and descriptions of the fine Penn Law/National Constitution Center programs:

• Symposia and events: recent examples include
  
  
  • Conference on the Iraqi Constitution, October 12, 2006 - the month of the first anniversary of the Iraqi Constitution--the Penn Law and the National Constitutional Center will convene a conference of leading scholars and policy-makers to reflect on the constitutional process in Iraq and the state of the constitution one year on. The event seeks to evaluate the status of the Iraqi constitution after its first year and raise critical questions including: How was the Constitution drafted? How does the Constitution address religion? What is the nature of federalism in the Constitution and how can it accommodate ethnic and political tensions? What reforms or amendments might be needed going forward? Invited speakers include Zalmay Khalilzad, US Ambassador to Iraq and Nicholas Burns, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs.
  • 23rd Annual Edward V. Sparer Symposium, "A Civil Gideon: Making the Case," For the first time, the American Bar Association will co-sponsor a law school symposium as part of its annual Equal Justice Conference. (Both at Penn Law and at the NCC, March 2006).
  • "A Briefing" on Intelligent Design, An examination of the Intelligent Design issue and recently concluded Dover case. Eric Rothschild L'93, who represented the plaintiffs, and Edward Sisson, a Washington attorney involved in First Amendment/religious clause litigation with Penn Law Professor Sarah Gordon, (At the NCC .Feb. 2006).
  • "A Briefing" on Judge Alito, Thomas Gentile, Law Clerk to Judge Alito, 1996-97; Partner at Lampf, Lipkin, Prupis and Pettigrow; Penn Law Professors David Rudovsky and Theodore Ruger. (At Penn Law, Jan. 2006).
  • First Amendment All-Stars Discuss Freedom of the Press, "How Free is the Free Press?" Penn Law Dean Michael A. Fitts introduction, The Honorable Louis Pollak keynote, Floyd Abrams, Matt Cooper, Anthony Lewis and Ronald Collins panelists. (At the NCC, Sept. 2005).
  
  
  
• Penn Law Symposia and Conferences: NCC patrons and participants are welcome to join certain Penn Law events that delve into Constitutional issues or be able learn about many of these events on the NCC's website.
  
  
• Penn Law Constitutional Experts: Penn Law faculty experts are often invited to participate at the NCC as panelists, moderators, and commentators on the issues of the day.
  
  
• The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law: The NCC co-sponsored the journal's first annual conference, providing educational materials to participants and the relationship has continued.
  
  
• Penn Law Students: In addition to the interaction available through the symposia seminars, pro bono opportunities, and the Journal of Constitutional Law, we anticipate creating additional opportunities for Penn Law students both to contribute their research and skills to the work of the NCC and to avail themselves of the resources of the NCC as this relationship develops.
  
  
• Visiting Scholars Program: a distinguished panel selected two constitutional law scholars who gave a public lecture on a constitutional topic, often taught a seminar at Penn Law, and engaged in other activities that enriched both Penn Law and the NCC,.
  
  
• In February 2002, Michael W. McConnell (now on the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals) inaugurated the Visiting Scholars Lecture Series with his lecture, "Establishment and Disestablishment at the Founding."
  
  
• Recent Scholars:
  
  
  • Professor of Law & History Sarah Barringer Gordon, Penn Law, 2001 – 2002
  • Professor Michael W. McConnell, University of Utah, 2001 – 2002
  • Professor of Law & Sociology, Kim Scheppele, Penn Law, spring 1998 - 1999
  • Professor Stanley N. Katz, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton, fall 2003
  • Professor Lillian R. BeVier, John S. Shannon Distinguished Professor of Law Class of 1963 Research Professor, University of Virginia School of Law, fall 2003
  • Professor Kathleen M. Sullivan, Stanley Morrison Professor of Law, Stanford Law School, fall 2004
  • Professor of Law, John Yoo, Berkeley School of Law, fall 2004
  • Professor Laurence Tribe, Harvard Law School, spring 2007
  • Theodore Olson, attorney for George W. Bush and previously Solicitor General, spring 2007