2019 National Convention Program

The 2019 ACS National Convention took place June 6-8, 2019. View registration information. Convention panels considered such timely issues as the need for structural reform of the Supreme Court, the role that state courts and state constitutions can play in protecting rights and liberties, and the need to develop a comprehensive government reform agenda to repair and safeguard our democracy in the post-Trump era.

Program Schedule

Download the 2019 National Convention Schedule or click here to view detailed plenary and panel descriptions.   

Thursday, June 6

2:00pm-3:45pm    Student Retreat

4:00pm-5:30pm   Speed Networking

5:30pm-6:30pm   Attendee Happy Hour

7:00pm-9:00pm    Welcome Dinner

Presentation of ACS Progressive Champion Award to ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
Presentation of David Carliner Public Interest Award

Raising the Bar: The Lawyers Come to Washington
A Conversation with Freshmen Members of Congress Colin Allred, Sharice Davids, and Jennifer Wexton moderated by Kimberly Atkins, WBUR Senior News Correspondent and MSNBC Contributor

9:30pm – 11:00pm    Student Chapter Happy Hour, Faculty Advisor Mixer*

Friday, June 7

7:30am – 9:00am     Judicial Nominations Task Force Breakfast*

9:00am – 9:15am      Keynote Address by Senator Mazie Hirono

9:15am – 11:00am     Plenary Panel

The Possibilities and Perils of Supreme Court Reform

11:15am – 12:45pm     Breakout Sessions 

Flipping the Narrative on American Democracy
Let’s Talk About Text
Promoting Progress: Opportunities and Obstacles to Prosecutor-led Reform
2019: A Tech Odyssey

1:00pm – 2:15pm     Lunch 

Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to and remarks by Bryan Stevenson

 

2:30pm – 4:00pm     Breakout Sessions

Women’s Rights as Human Rights: Raising the Floor & Shattering the Ceiling
Is Deference Deserved?: Reexamining Judicial Review in National Security Cases
One Factor Among Many: The Future of Affirmative Action
Toward a Progressive Vision of Religious Freedom

4:15pm – 6:00pm     Plenary Panel 

Into the Breach: Relying on State Courts and Constitutions to Safeguard Rights

6:00pm – 7:30pm   Reception, Volunteer Fair, Caroline Fredrickson Book Signing

 

7:00pm – 8:00pm     Members of Color Mixer All are welcome.

 

8:00pm – 10:00pm     Lawyer Chapter Leaders Dinner*

 

Saturday, June 8

6:00 - 6:45am     Morning Jog (Meet at Capital Hilton check-in desk)

7:45am - 9:00am     Next Generation Leaders Breakfast*

 

9:15am – 11:00am     Plenary Panel

After Trump: Reforming Government and Repairing Democracy

11:15am - 1:00pm     Breakout Sessions – Workshops 

An ACS #MeToo National Task Force Listening and Discussion Session
Breaking Through the Clutter: Effective Techniques for Getting Your Message Out, Acing Your Next Broadcast Interview, and Mastering the Art of Op-Ed Drafting and Placement
Expanding the Vote
Leaders from Law: Coaching on Campaign Fundamentals

1:15pm – 3:30pm    Lunch

 

Presentation of Chapter Awards, Winners of the Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition and the Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law

“Doing Theory/Doing Law: Practicing, Teaching, Governing, and Judging”
Former Acting Solicitor General Walter Dellinger in conversation with Judges Pamela Harris (Fourth Circuit), Sri Srinivasan (D.C. Circuit), and David Barron (First Circuit)

Remarks by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson

 

6:00pm – 8:00pm     Networking Dinners

*Invitation Only