Texas Tech School of Law Presents Fifth Criminal Law Symposium

Written by Tina Dechausay

The Texas Tech University School of Law presents the 2011 Criminal Law Symposium from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. April 8 in the Lanier Professional Development Center at 1802 Hartford Ave.

In the Fifth Annual Criminal Law Symposium, sponsored by School of Law and the Texas Tech Law Review, a distinguished group of scholars will explore the intersections of the First Amendment and criminal law.

“Several nationally-prominent speakers will participate in this year’s symposium,” said Professor Arnold Loewy, George R. Killam Jr. Chair of Criminal Law at Texas Tech’s School of Law. “Attendees will have the privilege of receiving insight on the importance of the first amendment issues of our time from the likes of long time national president of the ACLU Nadine Strossen; Burt Neuborne, head of the Brennan Center at NYU; Gene Nichol, former President of William and Mary, and former Dean of UNC and Colorado; Erwin Chemerinsky, prolific author, Supreme Court advocate, and founding Dean of U.C.- Irvine; Jesse Choper, former Dean of U.C.- Berkeley, and former president of the Association of American Law Schools; and Russell Weaver, who is probably the editor of more casebooks than any other professor in the United States.

“This will be our fifth annual criminal law symposium and with this year’s topic and distinguished group of speakers, it should prove to be a fascinating conference.”

The symposium is free to the public, but there is a fee for practitioners wishing to obtain CLE credit. For more information, as well as a link to register online, visit the symposium website.

Schedule of Events

9:15 - 9:45 a.m.

Opening Keynote

Erwin Chemerinsky, University of California, Irvine

10 a.m. – Noon

Is (should) BRANDENBURG (be) Good Law in a Post-9/11 World?

PANEL 1: Moderator – Nadine Strossen, New York University

Panelists: Burt Neuborne, New York University; Scot Powe, University of Texas; Gene Nichol, University of North Carolina; Bill Van Alstyne, William & Mary University

Noon - 1:15 p.m.

Lexis-Nexis Lunch: The History of the First Amendment and Criminal Law

Speaker: Michael Curtis, Wake Forest University

1:15 - 3:15 p.m.

The First Amendment, the Internet, and Criminal Law

PANEL 2: Moderator – Ellen Podgor, Stetson University

Panelists: Lyrissa Lidsky, University of Florida; Kevin Saunders, Michigan State University; Eric Segall, Russell Weaver, University of Louisville

3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Should Free Exercise of Religion ever be a Defense to an otherwise Valid Criminal Law, or did SMITH Get it Right?

PANEL 3: Moderator – John Taylor, West Virginia University

Panelists: Jesse Choper, University of California, Berkeley; Arnold Loewy, Texas Tech University; Bill Marshall, University of North Carolina; Frank Ravitch, Michigan State University

 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Reception

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Natalie Mahlberg, School of Law, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3990 ext. 291, or natalie.k.mahlberg@ttu.edu