Barring any delayed vote-counting, the results should be in! So now what? Come join ACS on Monday, November 11 to discuss just that. We will be hearing from Donald Sherman, the Executive Director and Chief Counsel for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and Terry Vo, Nashville Metro Council Member for District 17. They will be discussing the ethics concern facing our democracy, from a federal down to a city level, based upon the election results.

CREW was founded in 2003 on the belief that Americans deserve a government that is ethical, accountable, and open. CREW uses aggressive legal actions, in-depth investigations, and innovative policy and reform work to achieve that vision. Since CREW’s founding in 2003 as a nonpartisan non profit 501(c)(3) organization, they have achieved major successes holding those who abuse the system to account, compelling the government to be more open and transparent, and driving secret money and influence into the light. But they are not only focused on exposing wrongdoing. CREW is also deeply committed to reforming ethics and campaign finance laws, and working alongside policymakers to turn that into reality. CREW has been laying the groundwork for key reforms to restore ethics and accountability to our government and shore up our democracy against attacks.

Donald K. Sherman serves as CREW’s Executive Director and Chief Counsel. Sherman has served in various oversight, ethics, and policy roles in the Executive Branch and Congress including the White House, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the House Ethics Committee, and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Sherman earned a Bachelor’s degree cum laude from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Terry Vo has been a member of the Nashville Metro Council since August, 2023. In her work on Metro Council, she is the Vice Chair of the Public Facilities, Arts, and Culture Committee, Treasurer of the Minority Caucus, and Member of the Planning and Zoning Committee, the Ad Hoc East Bank Committee, and the Women’s Caucus. In addition to being deeply involved in numerous causes and organizations in Middle Tennessee, Ms. Vo is the co-founder and President of API Middle Tennessee, an organization devoted to working towards racial justice by building API community, lifting API voices, and celebrating API identities. Ms. Vo earned a Bachelor's degree cum laude from the University of Arkansas and a Master's degree in Government and Public Policy from the University of Queensland.

Judge Colleen Lawless (Central District of Illinois) and alumni clerks will share why students should consider starting their legal careers as staff attorneys and federal clerks, what federal judges are looking for, and how to make yourself a strong clerkship candidate. Alex Bailey, ’23 (Clerk for Judge Michael Mihm, Central District of Illinois) Jared Hamernick, ’21, (Clerk for Judge Doris Pryor, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals)

The Columbia Law School Chapter of the American Constitution Society will host Judge Gerard Lynch (CLS '75) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Lynch will discuss his time at CLS, his path to the bench, his time as a judge on the Second Circuit, and any advice that he has for law students interested in pursuing a career in the judiciary.

Beyond the Doctrine: Contracts

November 11, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PST @ SLS: Room 95

ACS is hosting Contracts Professors Morantz and Kelman for our third Beyond the Doctrine event!

In this speaker series, professors provide insight into the broader social context surrounding the doctrinal rules we learn in the classroom and answer student questions. In this series, we provide space for students to ask new questions — instead of “what is the holding in this case,” think “why?”

Professors Kelman and Morantz will discuss their research, experiences, and observations as they relate to the application of Contract law and how the doctrinal material learned in 1L year intersects with social and economic justice. Then we will open the floor to Q&A from students in attendance. This is a unique opportunity to connect with 1L doctrinal professors on the practical applications of the first-year curriculum. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP.

This is a re-screening event of oral arguments for the access of abortion case in the state of Wisconsin, Kaul v. Urmanski. This case is a series of cases which are in front of the state Supreme Court this current cycle. This event will be tied to a later event the chapter plans on holding on November 18th which will involve legislators talking about the future of abortion access in the state of Wisconsin.

In collaboration with the Privacy and Technology Law Association (PTLA), ACS is planning on an event on Digital Justice issues with a civil rights attorney in D.C., Alex Ault. Alex is an alum and a former ACS board member. His work is primarily focus on public policy advocacy involves modern civil rights in digital space. The event's goal is to explore the intersection of civil rights and privacy in the digital age, particularly focusing on how emerging technologies are impacting these critical areas.