Valparaiso University Law School to host Law Review Symposium on Campaign Finance on Friday, April 4, 2014
Valparaiso University Law School’s Law Review will host its annual Symposium on Friday, April 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 656 S. Greenwich St. Valparaiso, Indiana 46383. The subject of the Symposium, “Money in Politics: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” is the limitation imposed by the First Amendment on legislation that attempts to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures, as demonstrated by the Supreme Court decision in McCutcheon v. FEC earlier this week.
“As the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly expressed, the right to participate in electing our political leaders is one of the most significant rights we have,” said third-year law student Patricia Spiccia. “Accordingly, the law review believes it is import to understand the relationship between the ability to provide campaign donations, whether limited or unlimited, and the potential influence on the democratic process. This has been explored in two different contexts, which the symposium will cover. Most recently, in the McCutcheon v. FEC case that was decided April 2, 2014, the Supreme Court struck down aggregate contribution limits, which was advocated by RNC attorney and symposium participant James Bopp Jr. Concerns about money in politics have also been raised with regard to the IRS treatment of political contributions. The Valparaiso Law Review is thrilled to explore these issues in more depth.”
Friday’s symposium will bring together scholars and practitioners who are geographically and politically diverse to provide a balanced discussion.
Speakers at the symposium include:
• Nicholas Stephanopoulos, assistant professor of law, University of Chicago Law School
• Bradley A. Smith, professor of law, Capital University Law School
• Richard Briffault, Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation, Columbia Law School
• Fran Hill, professor of law, University of Miami School of Law
• Philip Hackney, assistant professor of law, Louisiana State University Law Center
• Lloyd H. Mayer, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law, University of Notre Dame Law School
• Donald B. Tobin, John C. Elam/Vorys Sater Professor of Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
• Jason Abel, counsel, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
• James Bopp Jr., The Bopp Law Firm
• Paul S. Ryan, senior counsel, Campaign Legal Center
• Liz Kennedy, counsel, Demos
Ivan Bodensteiner, dean of Valparaiso University’s Law School, said the symposium will provide an opportunity for students, scholars and attorneys to interact with each other.
“The symposium is part of the Law School’s commitment to programs and conferences that reach out to legal and academic communities to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience, foster public understanding of the law, and generate ideas for legal reform,” Bodensteiner said.
The event will be hosted at Valparaiso University Law School.
