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University of South Carolina School of Law

University of South Carolina School of Law
Contact Information
  • Email: william.tinkler[at]gmail.com
  • Phone:
Location
701 Main Street
Columbia, SC 29208
United States
See map: Google Maps
Chapter Contacts
  • William Paul Tinkler - President, william.tinkler[at]gmail.com
  • Jennie New - Vice President, jennienew[at]gmail.com
  • Sarah VanWye - Fall Programming Chairperson, sarah.vanwye[at]gmail.com
  • Courtney Williams - Spring Programming Chairperson, cd.williams[at]yahoo.com
  • Patrick Dungan - Membership Chairperson, a.patrick.dungan[at]gmail.com
  • Chris Huber - Secretary, christopherhuber[at]hotmail.com
Recent Stories

Lunch Discussion with U.S. District Court Judge Cam Currie

On Thursday, November 12, 2009, the University of South Carolina School of Law Chapter of the American Constitution Society and Women in Law co-sponsored a discussion with U.S. District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, who sits on the District of South Carolina. The many attendees were treated to a free Chick-fil-A lunch and listened to Judge Currie as she discussed her career and experiences in the federal courts. Students had the opportunity to ask her questions at the conclusion of the event.

A Screening of American Violet

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, South Carolina's chapters of the American Constitution Society and the American Civil Liberties Union hosted a screening of American Violet, a new movie about a young Texas woman who risked imprisonment on erroneous charges that she was a drug dealer. Based on a true story, the film chronicles the legal battle and the personal story behind it. The screening included a discussion by Graham Boyd, the ACLU attorney who represented the woman in real life, and SC Representative Joe Neal. The event was well attended by law students, professors, undergraduates, and member of the community. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions following the discussion.

Joseph McCulloch and the Innocence Project

On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, the South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society participated in the South Carolina Association for Justice’s meeting with Joseph McCulloch, a local attorney who started South Carolina’s Innocence Project. Mr. McCulloch discussed his experiences freeing the wrongfully convicted and the advances that the Innocence Project has made in the state, including a recent change in law requiring clerks of court to preserve evidence for potential post-conviction review. The meeting was well attended, and ACS members had the opportunity to ask questions and get information on how to get involved.

A Discussion on Solutions to Healthcare

On Wednesday, September 23, 2009, the American Constitution Society and Federalist Society chapters at the University of South Carolina School of Law co-sponsored a discussion on solutions to healthcare featuring Aranthan (“AJ”) Jones, II, of the Podesta Group and Ramesh Ponnuru of the National Review. The discussion was moderated by Professor Jacqueline R. Fox. Students in attendance were treated to BBQ and had the opportunity to ask both speakers questions.

Constitution in the Classroom

On Thursday, September 17, 2009, the South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society participated in the Constitution in the Classroom program. Members went into Dreher High School and A.C. Flora High School, both in Columbia, South Carolina, and taught a lesson on student free speech rights centered around Tinker v. Des Moines Indepedent Community School District. Members went over the background of the First Amendment and engaged students in a discussion of Tinker as well as other student speech cases.

Keeping Faith with the Constitution

On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, the South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society participated in a live simulcast from UC Berkeley School of Law on the issues addressed by three new books: Keeping Faith with the Constitution; It is a Constitution We Are Expounding; and The Constitution in 2020. The simulcast included speakers Dr. John C. Eastman, Chapman University School of Law; Pamela S. Karlan, Stanford Law School; The Honorable William A. Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and Moderator, Richard T. Ford, Stanford Law School.

2009 Kickoff Happy Hour

On Thursday, August 27, 2009, The South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society hosted its annual happy hour at The Whig in Columbia, South Carolina. The event had dozens of attendees; new students mingled with ACS members and faculty advisors, and learned about ACS and how it would benefit them throughout their three years at law school, as well as throughout their careers.

Northwest Austin v. Holder, South Carolina, and the Constitutionality of Preclearance

On Thursday, March 26, 2009, the University of South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society hosted Laughlin McDonald, Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project. Mr. McDonald spoke students and faculty about Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 v. Holder, which will be heard by the United States Supreme Court on April 29, 2009, and his role in the case. He also talked about the history of the Voting Rights Act, recent South Carolina cases that he litigated, and the likelihood that the United States Supreme Court will find preclearance to be unconstitutional after the 2006 extension. At the conclusion of his lecture, he answered questions from the students.

Religion and the Culture Wars

On Tuesday, March 17, 2009, the University of South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution society co-hosted Dr. Jeremy Gunn, Director of the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief and the Senior Fellow for Religion and Human Rights at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University School of Law. Dr. Gunn spoke to students and faculty about the role of religion in the key issues of the day, such as abortion and gay rights, as well as the status of religious tolerance in the United States. He closed, answering a variety of pertinent questions from the audience.

Al-Marri v. Pucciarelli: The Next Step in the Legal War on the War on Terrorism

 

 

On Thursday, February 26, 2009, the University of South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society hosted Jonathan Hafetz of the ACLU, who is lead counsel for Ali al-Marri in al-Marri v. Pucciarelli. Issues in the case concerned whether an enemy combatant had the constitutional right to challenge his designation in federal court. Mr. Hafetz discussed the Supreme Court cases stemming from the detention of enemy combatants in the War on Terrorism and answered questions from the students. Later that day, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Mr. al-Marri will be charged in federal court, making Mr. Hafetz’s visit incredibly timely.

Al-Marri and the Domestic Detention of Enemy Combatants

 

 

On Thursday, February 12, 2009, the University of South Carolina Chapter of the American Constitution Society hosted Andy Savage, local counsel to Ali al-Marri, who is being detained at the Consolidated Brig outside of Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Savage gave a fascinating talk on the history of the Mr. al-Marri’s detention, using video and photographs to illustrate the Bush Administration’s use of incommunicado interrogation and torture throughout the War on Terrorism. Students in attendance were enlightened on the practices of the U.S. Government occurring just over an hour from campus.

Symposium - The Roberts Court & Equal Protection: Gender, Race, and Class

The American Constitution Society sponsored the Class panel for the South Carolina Law Review's Symposium entitled "The Roberts Court and Equal Protection: Gender, Race, and Class" on February 29, 2008 at the University of South Carolina School of Law. The symposium addressed recent Supreme Court decisions regarding equal protection, including the school desegregation cases and the partial-birth abortion case, and possible areas for new litigation. The presenters focused on the Court’s constitutional philosophy regarding equal protection in the areas of gender, race, and class. The scholarship presented at the symposium will be published in the South Carolina Law Review's symposium issue in the summer of 2008.

Symopsium at University of South Carolina
Symopsium at University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina

Pamela Roberts Discusses Diversity in the Legal Profession

University of South Carolina October 8 event
University of South Carolina October 8 event
On October 8, 2007, Pamela Roberts, partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP and the Chair for the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, spoke to a group of students about the challenges and opportunities for developing diversity in the legal profession. She discussed statistical trends, best practices, and recruitment opportunities for law firms and other legal employers. The event was co-sponsored by ACS and the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and was held at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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