The Coolidge Auditorium in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC opens its doors on Monday, June 14 at 1 p.m. for the Second Annual Holmes Debates. Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. continues as the co-host with the Burton Foundation and the Law Library of Congress for this extraordinary forum focused on The Just Pursuit of Terrorism.
This year's forum continues the original topics of The Bounds of Post 9/11 Freedoms selected in 2003 by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. William Cohen, the former Secretary of Defense, returns as moderator to facilitate three rounds of debates and an international discussion by representatives from Russia and France.
"The sponsorship of this forum aligns with issues of prominence at the forefront of concerns in both public and political arenas," said John Murphy, chairman of Shook Hardy. "Key issues are discussed in the Holmes Debates at a level of understanding and analysis learning unsurpassed in any other legal forum."
"The last three years have been a tumultuous time in history," said William Burton, chairman and founder of the Burton Foundation. "In the years following 9/11, our Constitution has been the focus of unparalleled scrutiny." Michael Fitts, dean of the University off Pennsylvania Law School, chairs this year's program. Presentation speakers for Round One include David Nahimas, deputy assistant attorney general, Criminal Division, Department of Justice, and Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of law and sociology, University of Pennsylvania Law School. They will debate the topic of The USA Patriot Act. Patrick Philbin, associate deputy attorney general, and David Cole, professor at Georgetown University Law Center, will debate in Round Two on The Balance Between Individual Rights and National Security. In Round Three, the topics of Enemy Combatants will be debated by Dan Bryant, assistant attorney general, Office of Legal Policy, and Orin Gross, professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School.
Following the debates, the Fifth Annual Burton Awards Program will take place in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Cocktails will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by dinner and awards program at 6:30 p.m. Paula Zahn, anchor of CNN's Paula Zahn Now, will be the guest speaker.
For further information, call (816) 559-2423.
