ACS Chicago Lawyer Chapter Hosts "Calling a Con-Con: Is it Time for a Constitutional Convention in Illinois?"
On September 18, 2008, the American Constitution Society held “Calling a Con-Con: Is it Time or a Constitutional Convention in Illinois?” Taking place one day after U.S. Constitution Day, the program featured a spirited debate among distinguished supporters and opponents of the Con-Con referendum in Illinois, including Dawn Clark Netsch, 2006 Chicago Lawyer Chapter Legal Legend and former Illinois State Senator and Comptroller; Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, 2008 Legal Legends Lunch Keynote speaker and former Illinois State Treasurer; Illinois House of Representatives Member Mike Fortner (R-IL 95th), Co-Sponsor of the 2007 House Resolution 25 for a Constitutional Convention; and Ronald Smith, Professor and Director of the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution at The John Marshall Law School.
Moderating the debate was Wayne W. Whalen, Managing Partner of Chicago Lawyer Chapter Sponsor Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP (Chicago Office), and Chairman of the Drafting Committee at the 6th Illinois Constitutional Convention. Jerry Meites, former Chair of the Constitutional Law and Civil Rights Committee of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and member of the CBA Special Committee on Con-Con, introduced Mr. Whalen and provided a historical perspective of the Con-Con in Illinois as well as an overview of the issues at stake if Illinois citizens vote in favor of the proposal.
Co-sponsored by the Chicago Council of Lawyers and The John Marshall Faculty, the program was attended by nearly 100 ACS supporters and received coverage in The Capitol Fax Blog. ACS would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Chicago Council of Lawyers for providing attending attorneys with 1.0 hour of MCLE credit, The John Marshall Law School Faculty for hosting the program, Professor Ann Lousin for her assistance with the program, Jerry Meites and Lt. Gov. Quinn for suggesting the program and the Union League Club of Chicago for granting re-print permission for the CLE materials.
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