Note: The Institute for Law and Politics website has now moved to: http://politics.law.umn.edu
News and Updates
Institute Co-Hosts United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas
April 2009
On April 15, the Institute for Law and Politics co-sponsored a public lecture at the University of Minnesota by United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Institute Co-Hosts Minnesota Law Review Symposium on "Law & Politics in the 21st Century"
October 2008
On October 17, the Institute for Law and Politics co-sponsored the University of Minnesota Law Review's annual symposium at the law school.
The discussion examined the ways in which political factors increasingly affect the development of the law, and featured two keynote speakers: D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh and New Republic Columnist Benjamin Wittes. The symposium also focused on three panel topics: "Politics and the Judiciary," "Current Issues in Election Law," and "Beyond Bush: The Future of Executive Power."
"Politics and the Judiciary" Panel
Several of the country's most distinguished scholars participated. Professors Lee Epstein (Northwestern University), Ward Farnsworth (Boston University), Nancy Staudt (Northwestern University), and Tim Johnson (Minnesota) addressed issues relating to the politicization of the judiciary. Discussion topics included: the merits of various modes of judicial selection, the political economy of judging, and the factors that cause Supreme Court justices to dissent from the bench."Current Issues in Election Law" Panel
The second panel consisted of Professors Heather Gerken (Yale), Ellen Katz (Michigan), Nate Persily (Columbia), and Terry Smith (Fordham). The panelists tackled several important issues in election law. Debate centered on the Supreme Court's four election law cases of the 2007-08 Term, which raised issues from the constitutionality of voter identification requirements to the scope of political party autonomy to control candidates' access to the ballot."Beyond Bush: The Future of Executive Power" Panel
Finally, Professors Steven Calabresi (Northwestern University), Charles Cameron (Princeton), William Howell (Chicago) and Heidi Kitrosser (Minnesota) addressed both the descriptive and normative scope of executive power. Professors Kitrosser and Calabresi analyzed unitary executive theory and will engage in a normative debate about its validity. Professors Howell and Cameron, the panel's political scientists, provided empirical assessments of executive power.Institute for Law and Politics Events During the Republican National Convention
September 2008
On September 2, 2008, the Institute for Law and Politics hosted a number of events at the University of Minnesota Law School during the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities.
Alumni Lunch with Special Guest Rachel Brand
The Institute for Law and Politics, the Law School Development Office, and Dean David Wippman hosted law school alumni and special guest speaker Rachel Brand.
Ms. Brand is a former Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush and also served as Assistant United States Attorney General for Legal Policy, heading up the confirmation hearings for Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.
Expert Panel Discussion on "Minnesota Politics"
The Institute hosted some of Minnesota's top political experts for a discussion of Minnesota's unique political culture and current events in Minnesota politics.
Panelists included former Congressman Tim Penny, Hamline Professor David Schultz, Former State Representative Kevin Goodno, and "Politics in Minnesota" Publisher Sarah Janecek. The discussion was moderated by Institute for Law and Politics Co-Director Tim Johnson.
Conversation with Common Cause President Bob Edgar on "Money and Politics"
The Institute also hosted a discussion about the role of money in politics with two of the nation's leading authorities on the subject.
Institute for Law and Politics Co-Director Guy Charles joined in a discussion with Common Cause President, and former Congressman, Bob Edgar on the topic of "Money and Politics."
Institute Hosts Midwest Democracy Network Conference
June 2008
On June 25 & 26, the Institute for Law and Politics hosted the semi-annual conference of the Midwest Democracy Network.
The Midwest Democracy Network is an alliance of political reform advocates committed to improving democratic institutions in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
The Network includes state-based civic and public interest organizations as well as prominent academic institutions and respected policy and legal experts. While a number of participants focus on specific reform issues, others are engaged on a much broader policy front.
Professor Patrick Garry Discussed Judicial Decisionmaking
April 2008
On Monday, April 28, University of South Dakota Law Professor Patrick Garry led a discussion on his new book, "An Entrenched Legacy: How the New Deal Constitutional Revolution Continues to Shape the Role of the Supreme Court."
From Amazon: "An Entrenched Legacy takes a fresh look at the role of the Supreme Court in our modern constitutional system. Although criticisms of judicial power today often attribute its rise to the activism of justices seeking to advance particular political ideologies, Patrick Garry argues instead that the Supreme Court's power has grown mainly because of certain constitutional decisions during the New Deal era that initially seemed to portend a lessening of the Court's power."
Professor Marc-Olivier Baruch Discussed the Implementation of Anti-Semitic Legislation in France in 1940-44
April 2008
On Monday, April 28, Professor Marc-Olivier Baruch, Professor and Director of Studies, Center of Historical Research, L'Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociale, CNRS, led a discussion on the implementation of anti-Semitic legislation in France in 1940-44.
Professor Baruch is a French historian; in addition to his work as a scholar writing books and articles, Professor Baruch testified at the war crimes trial of Maurice Papon.
This event was co-sponsored by the Institute for Law and Rationality and the Program in Law and History.
Former Minnesota Governor Al Quie Discussed Judicial Selection in Minnesota
April 2008
On Thursday, April 24, Former Minnesota Governor Al Quie (R) discussed possible reforms to Minnesota's judicial selection system.
Governor Quie recently chaired a state commission to study possible reforms to Minnesota's system.
Former Asst. Attorney General Rachel Brand Discusses the Federal Judicial Confirmation Process
January 2008
On Thursday, January 24, Former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Rachel Brand led a discussion on "An Insider's Perspective on the Federal Judicial Confirmation Process."
Ms. Brand led the judicial confirmation process for the Bush Administration, including preparing Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Alito for their Senate confirmation hearings.
Co-Director David Stras Discusses Federal Judicial Appointments
November 2007
The Institute for Law and Politics continued its regular lunch discussions with two programs in November.
On Friday, November 30, Co-Director David Stras led a discussion on the politics of judicial appointments related to his recent paper: "The New Politics of Judicial Appointments."
Senior Fellow David Schultz Discusses Voter Fraud
November 2007
The Institute for Law and Politics continued its regular lunch discussions with two programs in November.
On Tuesday, November 13, Senior Fellow David Schultz led a discussion on voter fraud issues related to his recent paper: "Less than Fundamental: The Myth of Voter Fraud and the Coming of the Second Great Disenfranchisement."
This event was co-sponsored by the University of Minnesota chapter of the American Constitution Society.
Former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta Launches Public Lecture Series
October 2007
The Institute for Law and Politics launched our public lecture series on October 18 with former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta. Mr. Podesta spoke on the topic of "Congressional Investigations and the Separation of Powers".Monthly Lunch Discussion Series Launched
August 2007
The Institute for Law and Politics launched the first of its regular lunch discussions, featuring Senior Fellow David Schultz. This month's lunch discussion focused on Professor Schultz's recent paper, "The Party's Over: Partisan Gerrymandering and the First Amendment." The event featured a presentation of the paper by Professor Schulz followed by an informal discussion of the paper and the issue of partisan gerrymandering.
The Institute for Law and Politics Begins Work
July 2007
Advisory Board AnnouncedWe have completed recruitment for our Advisory Board and are proud to announce a tremendous group of state and national leaders who will assist the Institute for Law and Politics in planning and programming.
Institute Assists in Ranked Choice Voting Implementation
One of our first projects will be assisting the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Secretary of State in developing rules and standards for Ranked Choice Voting in Minneapolis and other cities in Minnesota.