Law Library of Congress: Webcasts

Law Day 2008: The Rule of Law in Established and Emerging Countries

On May 1, 2008, the Law Library of Congress presented a panel discussion in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Law Day. The panel, moderated by Judge Harry T. Edwards, examined what the Rule of Law means to established and emerging countries. Running Time: 87 minutes

Speakers:
Dr. Rubens Medina, Law Librarian of Congress
The Honorable Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator, South Carolina
The Honorable Harry T. Edwards, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit
Rob Boone, Director, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
Rosa Brooks, Professor of Law, Georgetown Law School
Thomas Carothers, VP, Studies-International Politics & Governance, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Honorable Kurt L. Schmoke, Dean, Howard University School of Law and former Mayor of Baltimore

Presented by the Law Library of Congress.

Former Oklahoma Representative Mickey Edwards Discusses Book on Conservatism

Title: Former Oklahoma Representative Mickey Edwards Discusses Book on Conservatism
Speakers: Rubens Medina, Mickey Edwards
Event Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Running Time: 49 minutes

Description: Former Representative Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.), a leading member of the American conservative movement for more than 40 years, believes that many conservatives today have abandoned their principles and have become champions of that which they once most feared--government intrusion.

In his new book, "Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost--And How It Can Find Its Way Back," Edwards argues that the mantle of conservatism has been taken over by people whose beliefs and policies threaten the entire constitutional system of government by gutting the system of checks and balances, abandoning due process and trampling upon civil liberties. He provides a blueprint for reclaiming the essence of conservatism in America.

Presented by the Law Library of Congress.

No Greater Challenge: Assessing Legal Responses to Terrorism

Title: No Greater Challenge: Assessing Legal Responses to Terrorism
Speakers: Rubens Medina, James Renwick
Event Date: January 14, 2008
Running Time: 59 minutes

Description: A lecture by Dr. James Renwick, Australian Barrister and Visiting Fulbright Scholar. "No Greater Challenge: Assessing Legal Responses to Terrorism," focused on the United Kingdom's and Australia's legislative response to terrorism since 9/11, the supporting policy issues, and how they compare to the response of the United States.

Presented by the Law Library of Congress.

Extraordinary Rendition: Constitutional Issues

Title: Extraordinary Rendition: Constitutional Issues
Speakers: Rubens Medina, Law Librarian of Congress; Louis Fisher, Specialist in Constitutional Law, Law Library of Congress; Heather Sawyer, Subcommittee on the Constitution Counsel, House Committee on the Judiciary; Daniel Huff
Crimes and Oversight Counsel, Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Event Date: December 5, 2007
Running Time: 89 minutes

Description: A discussion on "extraordinary rendition" - the transfer of suspected terrorists to countries known to employ harsh interrogation techniques that may rise to the level of torture. The panel also examined the role of the judiciary in the cases of Khaled El-Masri and Maher Arar.

Indian Religious Freedom: To Litigate or Legislate?

Title: Indian Religious Freedom: To Litigate or Legislate?
Speakers: Louis Fisher, Kevin Gover (Pawnee), Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee), Dean Suagee (Cherokee)
Event Date: November 28, 2007
Running Time: 65 minutes

Description: Experts in the field of Native American Law discuss the difficulties of protecting American Indian religious rights through litigation and explored recent cases such as San Francisco Peaks and Cave Rock.

Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Panel 1

Title: Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Panel 1
Speakers: Rubens Medina, Virginia Sloan, E. Michael McCann, Vanessa Ruiz, Bryan Stevenson. Moderated by Emma Schwartz
Event Date: November 7, 2007
Running Time: 1:36:27 minutes

Description: The Law Library and the Constitution Project cosponsored a day-long conference on the right to the effective assistance of counsel and, in particular, the case of Strickland v. Washington. Sandra Day O'Connor, retired Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, provided the keynote address and took questions from the audience. Justice O'Connor spoke of the impact of Strickland v. Washington and sites it as one of two cases that she will likely be most remembered for. Three panels explored why the effective assistance of counsel standard is important, the significance of Strickland v. Washington, and federal and state reforms to protect the right to the effective assistance of counsel. The panelists included prominent district and state attorneys, appellate judges, law professors, and experts from legal rights organizations discussing. Dr. Rubens Medina, Law Librarian of Congress, and Virginia Sloan, President of the Constitution Project, provided opening remarks. Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, addressed the audience prior to Justice O'Connor's keynote.

Speaker Names and Titles:
Opening remarks by Dr. Rubens Medina, Law Librarian of Congress and Virginia Sloan, President of the Constitution Project
Moderated by: Emma Schwartz, Associate Editor for US News & World Report
E. Michael McCann, former District Attorney for Milwaukee County, WI
Vanessa Ruiz, Associate Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Bryan Stevenson, Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama

Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Keynote Address

Title: Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Keynote Address
Speakers: James H. Billington, Joan Biskupic, Sandra Day O'Connor
Event Date: November 7, 2007
Running Time: 43:28 minutes

Speakers:
Welcome by Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress
Introduction by Joan Biskupic, Supreme Court Reporter for USA Today and author of Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Court Became Its Most Influential Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (ret.), author of majority opinion in Strickland v. Washington

Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Panel 2

Title: Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Panel 2
Speakers: Alan Spellberg, Colin Starger, Carolyn Engel Temin, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. Moderated by Dahlia Lithwick. Introduction by Scott Messinger.
Event Date: November 7, 2007
Running Time: 1:16:27 minutes

Speaker Names and Titles:
Introduction by Scott Messinger, Chief Operating Officer of the Constitution Project
Moderated by Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor for Slate.com
Alan Spellberg, Cook County, IL States Attorneys Office
Colin Starger, Assistant Professor of Lawyering at the New York University School of Law
Carolyn Engel Temin, Senior Judge, Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., Partner at Jenner & Block LLP who successfully argues ineffective assistance of counsel claim in Wiggins v. Smith in the United States Supreme Court.

Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Panel 3

Title: Strickland v. Washington: How Effective is the Right to the Effective Assistance of Counsel Standard? Panel 3
Speakers: Stephen B. Bright, Rodney Ellis, Norman Lefstein, Ronald Weich. Moderated by Linda Greenhouse. Introduction by Scott Messinger
Event Date: November 7, 2007
Running Time: 1:33:27 minutes

Speaker Names and Titles:
Introduction by Scott Messinger, Chief Operating Officer of the Constitution Project
Moderated by Linda Greenhouse, Supreme Court reporter for The New York Times
Stephen B. Bright, president and senior Counsel of the Southern Center for Human Rights
Rodney Ellis, State Senator representing the 13th District of Texas, leader of indigent defense reform efforts in Texas
Norman Lefstein, Professor and Dean Emeritus at the University of Indiana School of Law, Indianapolis and coauthor of "Gideon's Broken Promise: America's Continuing Quest for Equal Justice"
Ronald Weich, chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Native American Heritage Month Keynote Address by Rep. Tom Cole

Title: Native American Heritage Month Keynote Address by Rep. Tom Cole
Speakers: Rep. Tom Cole
Event Date: November 6, 2007
Running Time: 54 minutes
Description: Five years to the day after being elected to represent Oklahoma's 4th congressional district, Rep. Tom Cole delivered the keynote address for the Library's 2007 celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

"National Security and the Rule of Law" Panel Discussion

Title: Law Library of Congress: "National Security and the Rule of Law" Panel Discussion
Speakers: Rubens Medina, Charlie Savage, Mickey Edwards, James Thurber, Virginia Sloan
Event Date: September 17, 2007
Running Time: 93 minutes
Description: Law Library Speaker Series and Panel Discussion presented in partnership with the Constitution Project featuring Charlie Savage, The Boston Globe; Mickey Edwards, Aspen Institute, James Thurber, American University.

“National Security and the Constitution” Panel Discussion

Title: Law Library of Congress: “National Security and the Constitution” Panel Discussion
Speakers: Louis Fisher, Brian McKeon, Michael O’Neill
Event Date: September 12, 2007
Running Time: 88 minutes
Description: A Panel Discussion presented by the Law Library of Congress featuring Louis Fisher, Law Library of Congress; Brian McKeon, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; and Michael O’ Neill, Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

175th Anniversary Gala of the Law Library of Congress

Title: 175th Anniversary Gala
Speakers: Jeffrey Toobin, Rubens Medina, Ted Poe
Event Date: July 14, 2007
Running Time: 48:38
Description: The Law Library of Congress 175th Anniversary Gala featuring Jeffrey Toobin, Chair of the Honorary Committee; Rubens Medina, Law Librarian of Congress; and Ted Poe, United States Congressman.

A Panel Discussion: “Torture, Detainees, and the U.S. Military”

Title: A Panel Discussion: “Torture, Detainees, and the U.S. Military”
Speakers: Gary Solis, Patrick Finnegan, James C. Walker, Jacki Northam, Lee A. Casey
Event Date: July 11, 2007
Running Time: 1:31:03
Description: A panel discussion on Guantanamo, “high value” detainees, military commissions, fair trials, and allegations of torture by agents of the United States, including military personnel.

Law Day 2007 "Perspectives on Childhood and the Law"

Title: Law Library of Congress: Law Day 2007 "Perspectives on Childhood and the Law"
Speakers: Karen J. Mathis, Rubens Medina, John Milewski, Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Stephen J. Morse, Karen Pittman, David Young, Michael Zuckerman
Event Date: May 1, 2007
Running Time: 1:34:12
Description: A panel discussion presented by The Law Library of Congress and the American Bar Association Division for Public Education to commemorate Law Day 2007.

Law Day 2006 “Separate Branches, Balanced Powers: Madison’s Legacy”

Title: Law Day 2006 “Separate Branches, Balanced Powers: Madison’s Legacy” Speakers: Jeffrey Rosen, Richard Matthews, Hon. Adner Mikva, Gary Rosen, Hon. Patricia Wald, Ruth Wedgwood, Michael Greco, Peter Kalis, Harry Yee
Event Date: May 1, 2006
Running Time: 83:30.122
Description: The Law Library of Congress and the American Bar Association Division for Public Education commemorated Law Day 2006 with a panel discussion on “Separate Branches, Balanced Powers: Madison’s Legacy.”