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A panel of judges and legal experts will discuss the U.S. Constitution and a number of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases during this month's Constitution Day celebration.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications
September 11, 2009

The nation's founding document and major cases that have recently gone before the U.S. Supreme Court will be discussed during a panel discussion this month.

The University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law joins agencies and institutions from across the nation to celebrate Constitution Day, an annual commemorative event to inform the public about the meanings embedded in the 4,400-word document.

Sponsored by the non-partisan UA Rehnquist Center, the 11th annual Constitution Day Supreme Court Review at the University will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, the day the Constitution turns 222 years old.

The event recognizes Constitution Day, commemorating the day in 1787 that the Constitution was approved by the state delegations to the Constitutional Convention and signed by 39 of its framers.

The UA panel dicussion will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 164 of the law school, located at 1201 E. Speedway Blvd.

Sally M. Rider, director of the Rehnquist Center, will moderate the discussion with panelists Gregory G. Garre, who served as the 44th U.S. solicitor general, W. Scott Bales, an Arizona Supreme Court justice; and David Marcus, a UA associate professor of law.  

The speakers will discuss several important cases recently heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. The cases are: Ashcroft v. Igbal, regarding rules related to pleading; Arizona v. Gant, which concerns an incident in which a search without a warrant led to an arrest; Caperton v. Massey, which concerned state judicial campaign contributions and the issue of due process; and Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations Inc., which brought expletives into question. 

With support from the Marshall Foundation, the event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow. Also, free continuing legal education credit is available for those in the legal profession who attend.

Reservations are not required, but seating is limited so attendees are asked to arrive early.

For priority seating, those planning to attend can register online. Those interested in continuing legal education credit should denote a request in the "remarks" section. For more information, contact Donna Ream at 520-626-1629 or ream@law.arizona.edu.