The Northeast Ohio Chapter was presented with the Chapter of the Year Award at the National Convention of the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy on Saturday June 14th, 2008. This award is given to the lawyer chapter that has shown the greatest overall strength in meeting ACS’ mission and goals.

On Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the Northeast Ohio Chapter hosted a discussion entitled “Building a Perfect Race: Modern Eugenics and American Law.” The event featured Maxwell J. Mehlman, Arthur E. Petersilge Professor of Law and Director of the Law-Medicine Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and Professor of Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Virginia Marentette with representatives Amy Gardner from Chicago, Sharmila Murthy from Nashville and Michael Mueti from Northeast Ohio

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) honored its Northeast Ohio Chapter last week with its 2007 Diverstiy Award, which is awarded to the chapter that has made the greatest strides in increasing diversity amongst its membership and in its programming.

On Friday, June 1, 2007 the Northeast Ohio Chapter and the National Security Network hosted an event entitled “Baghdad Law: An Army Lawyer in the Green Zone.” The discussion featured Captain Brendan Mackin, Esq., a Judge Advocate, Trial Counsel with the 37th Brigade Combat Team of the Ohio Army Reserve National Guard. In this discussion, Capt. Mackin shared an overview of the many questions JAGs face on a daily basis in Iraq, including: Which set of laws applies? Does due process exist in war? How do we treat enemy combatants? and many more. Capt. Mackin also shared his personal reflections on life as a military lawyer, and answered questions from the audience.

On March 21, 2007, the Northeast Ohio Chapter hosted an Attorney-Law Student Networking Hour at Fat Fish Blue. The event followed a discussion, also hosted by the chapter, entitled “The Open Secret of College Admissions: Is Gender Balancing Constitutional?,” featuring Karla Bell, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

The Northeast Ohio Lawyer Chapter panel discussion and film screening of “Quiet Revolution” at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP on October 16, 2006 was a success! More than 60 people viewed the film, which traces the recent rise and transformative impact of Conservative scholars, lawyers and judges on American law and public policy. Hosted by the West Wing's Bradley Whitford, the film examines how their agenda is threatening to turn back the clock on decades of legislation to protect civil rights, worker and consumer safety, public health and more. The panel discussion following the film included panelists Professor David Forte, Professor of Law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law; Steven Dettelbach, Partner at Baker Hostetler; and Seth Rosenthal, Legal Director of the Alliance for Justice. Chapter members were also treated to special comments from Nan Aron, President of the Alliance for Justice, who traveled all the way from Washington, DC to introduce the film.

 

On September 6, 2006, the Northeastern Ohio Lawyer Chapter of ACS hosted "The Changing Face of Church & State: How Religious Voices Are Influencing Public Policy." The event, held at Case Western Reserve University and attended by 175 people, featured panelists Bettysue Feuer, Former Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League; Gary Daniels, Litigation Coordinator of the ACLU of Ohio; Rabbi Richard A. Block, Senior Rabbi of The Temple-Tifereth Israel; and Gary Lankford, President of FamilyVision; and Prof. Dena S. Davis, Professor of Law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Bios of the speakers, as well as photographs from the event, are available.