In 2018, the Supreme Court’s Trump v. Hawaii decision upheld a version of the Muslim Ban, setting a dangerous precedent for executive power to target entire communities under the guise of “national security.” Today, that same legal playbook is being used to justify new travel bans, indefinite immigrant detention, and other systemic attacks. These aren’t isolated issues; we are seeing coordinated global and domestic crackdown on rights – rooted in white supremacy, entrenched patriarchy, and the concentration of state power. Whether it’s the silencing of campus protests, the rollback of reproductive freedom, the erosion of voting rights, or the criminalization of solidarity, the message is the same: dissent and difference are threats to be controlled. Civil rights attorney Sufyan Sohel will examine the legality of the current travel bans and the impact of Trump v. Hawaii, then trace the common threads connecting these struggles. This conversation will delve into the architecture of oppression but also highlight how law students, lawyers, and communities can resist and reimagine a future grounded in dignity, equity, and the collective liberation. Speaker Sufyan Sohel is affiliated with the Cook County Commission of Human Rights; he is the Commission Chair. He was also the Senior Advisor of Special Projects at CAIR-Chicago Council of American Islamic Relations. This event is co-sponsored by the Muslim Law Students Association at Illinois Law.

Tickets are now sold out. If you are interested in attending the Luncheon, please contact Meghan Paulas at mjpaulas@acslaw.org.

The 2025 ACS Chicago Legal Legends Luncheon will be on September 10 at the Union League Club and will feature keynote remarks from Elie Mystal. 

Featuring:

Elie Mystal, Justice Correspondent & Columnist, The Nation; New York Times bestselling author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution

We're also thrilled to announce our 2025 Abner J. Mikva and Ruth Goldman Honorees! 

Abner J. Mikva Awardees:

Herschella G. Conyers, Former Lillian E. Kraemer Clinical Professor of Public Interest Law, The University of Chicago Law School

Jon Loevy, Founding Partner, Loevy + Loevy

Hon. Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General

Ruth Goldman Awardees:

S. Mayumi Grigsby, Deputy Chief of Policy & Director of Legislative Affairs, Cook County State's Attorney's Office

Danielle Hamilton, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Carter G. Phillips Center for Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

Caryn C. Lederer, Shareholder, Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd

Geoffrey R. Stone Awardee:

Geoffrey R. Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law, The University of Chicago Law School; Member, ACS Chicago Lawyer Chapter Board of Advisors; and Former Chair, ACS National Board of Directors

Thank you to our sponsors:

Founder: Loevy + Loevy

Patron: Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd and Jenner & Block LLP

Benefactor: Compassion & Choices, Freedom from Religion Foundation, The Nova Collective, The Prinz Law Firm, and Sidley Austin

Donor: Aronberg Goldgehn, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, Massey & Gail LLP, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C. and Worsek & Vihon 

Friend: Scott R. Lassar and Rebecca Sundin

If you are interested in sponsoring the Luncheon, please contact Meghan Paulas at mjpaulas@acslaw.org.

Elie Mystal has agreed to speak and hold a Q&A at Northwestern Law after the ACS Chicago Legal Legends Luncheon occurring that same day at 12:00 p.m. at the Union League Club.

Featuring:

Elie Mystal, Justice Correspondent & Columnist, The Nation; New York Times bestselling author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution.

ACS hosts an Ice Cream Social at Ben & Jerry’s, offering a fun, relaxed setting for students to connect with each other and ACS members. Over a scoop (or two) of ice cream, students can talk about current legal issues, share ideas for future events, and build connections with others interested in progressive lawyering and advocacy.

Our first general meeting, we are not having speakers for this one, no RSVP required, and we are mainly hosting it to get our chapter's ball rolling. Please join so we can introduce you to our new exec board, what our plans for the year are, and other important related and administrative topics.

NDLS ACS will be hosting David Orentlicher for a Supreme Court Recap.