A Wave of Change: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Michigan’s Constitution and the Evolution of State Constitutionalism

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The  Symposium  will  be  held  on  Friday,  October  11th  at  Wayne   State  University  Law  School  from  8:00am  to  5:00pm.

RSVPs  are  not  required  but  encouraged.  To  RSVP,  please  click  here.

This  year’s  symposium  is  triggered  by  the  50th  anniversary  of  Michigan’s Constitution.     Ratified  in  1963,  Michigan’s  Constitution  was  part  of  a  wave  of change  in  state  constitutions   sparked  by  the  famous  “one  person,  one  vote” standard  formulated  by  the  U.S.  Supreme   Court  in  Baker  v.  Carr.  Ten  states ratified  new  constitutions  as  part  of  this  movement.

This  symposium  seeks  to  evaluate  the  progress  of  state  constitutions  over  the  past  50   years.  The  symposium  will  also  expose  students,  practitioners,  academics,  and  the   community  to  the  unique  and  important  qualities  of  state  constitutions  that  are  largely   overlooked  and  undervalued.

The  event  will  consist  of  speakers,  panels,  and  networking  opportunities.  Attendees  will   have  the  opportunity  to  interact  with  noted  national  and  local  legal  scholars  and  well  as   Michigan  judges,  practitioners  and  community  members.

The  morning  portion  of  the  program  will  concentrate  on  state  constitutionalism and  will   consist  of  three  panels.  Speakers  and  panel  participants  include  Robert  Williams  and  Alan   Tarr  from  Rutgers-­‐Camden  School  of  Law,  Helen  Hershkoff  from  N.Y.U.  School  of  Law,  Jim   Gardner  from  SUNY  Buffalo  Law  School,  John  Dinan  from  Wake  Forest  University,  Susan   Fino  from  Wayne  State  University,  Lawrence  Friedman  from  New  England  Law  School, Mila Versteeg from University of Virginia Law, Emily  Zackin from Johns Hopkins,  and  Justin  Long  from  Wayne  State  University  Law  School.

The  afternoon  portion  of  the  program  will  focus  on  celebrating  Michigan’s  constitution.   Jack  Faxon,  former  State  Senator  and  member  of  the  constitutional  convention,  will  speak   at  the  luncheon  about  his  experience  and  memories.  Justice  Marilyn  Kelly  and  Justice  Charles  Levin  will  participate  on  a  Michigan  Supreme  Court  judicial  panel   and  will  discuss  their  experience  hearing  and  deciding  state  constitutional  cases.

Our Keynote Speaker this year will be Mr. Frank Kelley, former Attorney General. Mr. Kelley will speak about his experiences with the Michigan Constitution as well as how the Constitution impacts the practice of law.

Food  and  drink  will  be  provided  free  of  charge  throughout  the  symposium  including  a   continental  breakfast,  a  luncheon,  and  an  evening  reception.  Lunch  will  be  provided  to   those  who  RSVP.

The Wayne Law Review Symposium is made possible through the support of the Cohn Family Endowed Fund.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Stephanie Eisenberg, Symposium Editor, at stephanie.eisenberg@wayne.edu or Lynn Bartkowiak Sholander, Editor-In-Chief, at lynn.bartkowiak@wayne.edu

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, October 11th!