Join ACS and Professor Fred Smith Jr. for a Beyond the Doctrine talk exploring open questions within current legal doctrine.
Professor Smith will discuss how judicial bystanding may conflict with constitutionally imposed obligations on the judiciary. Traditionally, doctrines of justiciability have been thought of as imposing limits on judicial power, but Professor Smith will explain how judicial abstention can instead function as a form of complicity. Lunch will be provided.
Washington University School of Law's chapter of ACS will be co-sponsoring this event with the Energy & Environmental Law Society. We will discuss issues such as opposing data centers, protecting the environment despite changes to environmental statutes (most importantly the Endangered Species Act), seeking environmental justice, and combating climate change despite institutional opposition. We will have the Director of WashU's environmental clinic, and a lawyer from Stanford's environmental clinic, among other speakers. So please join us at WashU Law to discuss these exceptionally important issues.
Join the ACS Chicago Lawyer Chapter, ACS DePaul Law Student Chapter, and the ACS UIC Law Student Chapter for a public forum featuring the candidates running to fill the two vacancies within the 1st Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. The forum will be VIRTUAL.
State of the Race:
On Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, there will be an election to fill two vacancies within the 1st Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. As of the end of the filing period, there are no Republican candidates. On the Democratic side, five candidates filed. Because these are the only candidates, the primary will be the only opportunity to hear from a candidate, of any party, vying for the 1st Judicial Subcircuit on critical issues facing our judiciary in the coming years.
Featuring (in alphabetical order by last name):
Walker Vacancy
Balanoff Vacancy
Moderated by:
Kelly Garcia, Reporter, Injustice Watch
Note: ACS is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan educational organization. This is a non-partisan candidate forum.
The rights protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are essential for the proper functioning of a responsive democracy. Too frequently, the First Amendment’s core freedoms are ignored or weaponized to suit the political and policy priorities of those in power. The U.S. Supreme Court inconsistently applies longstanding First Amendment jurisprudence, ignoring precedents they deem inconvenient. The Administration targets those whose speech it disfavors, from law firms to private individuals. State and local governments are quick to criminalize protected protest activity to stifle dissent and chill social movements. These actions raise important questions as to whether our legal and political systems can safeguard First Amendment rights for all, or whether skewed and selective application of these freedoms will become the norm. Join William & Mary ACS for a discussion on the Relationship between the Establishment Clause in the context of religious schools with Vania Blaiklock, Esq., how weakened rule of law can affect the protection of these rights, and what we can do about it.
Our general body meeting is an informational gathering of ACS members and prospective members mandated by our university.
Join the ACS Minnesota Lawyer Chapter for a special event with newly retired Joan Bibelhausen, for an in-person, interactive, mental health CLE that looks back over her years. She will share what she has found to be most effective with attorney clients over the years. And instead of simply listening to what we can do, we will have an interactive portion where we practice the secondary trauma healthy response techniques right then and there together.
As we know, Minneapolis is in the midst of a legal crisis. Legal professionals are exposed to experiences that can lead to higher stress and greater consequences than those in many other careers. There is a clearly recognized continuum where unresolved chronic stress becomes a predictor for substance use problems and mental illness, particularly depression and anxiety. By understanding this continuum, the impact of our exposure to trauma, and the facts about addiction and mental illness, lawyers can reduce their risk and, hopefully, get help earlier when there is a mental health, substance use, or related problem. By knowing these risks, we can also support each other. This program will present signs, symptoms, risk factors, and recovery regarding these challenges, along with well-being tools. The presenter will also provide information on Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and other resources.
Featuring:
Joan Bibelhausen, Senior Advisor; Former Executive Director, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
Participants must register ahead of time to clear security at the building.
1.0 Mental Health CLE applied for.