Programs Engage Oregon Law Community Around Current Policy Issues

Cheryl Harris speaking with UO Law student

This past year brought no shortage of public policy issues and debates for the legal community to consider. The Public Law and Policy Program facilitated a range of events that sought to add value to conversations and debates on both local and national issues. National-level speakers included UCLA School of Law Professor Cheryl Harris, who was selected as this year’s Derrick Bell Lecture speaker. Professor Harris filled the lecture hall and an overflow room for her talk, “Affirmative Action Chronicles: From the Era of Colorblindness to White Nationalism.

Professor Garrett Epps, who previously taught at Oregon Law, also visited spring semester.  As a frequent contributing editor for The Atlantic, Professor Epps addressed the question, “Trump Judges & Obama Judges: Supreme Court Under Stress?” with an analysis of recent developments he views as unprecedented in the court’s history.

Questions related to U.S. Supreme Court appointments became a focal point for lectures by Oregon Law professors. Associate Dean Stuart Chinn addressed the topic for the annual Constitution Day program. In the wake of the Justice Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, Professor Greg Dotson shared his expertise in a presentation about congressional hearings and investigations.

Other programs contributed to discussions on local issues. These programs included the popular Lunch with Leaders programs that afforded law students the opportunity to have conversations with City Councilor Chris Pryor, City Councilor Jennifer Yeh, County Commissioner Pete Sorenson, and County Commissioner Heather Buch.