CLS Experts Can Speak On New Supreme Court Cases
COLUMBIA LAW EXPERTS ON THE VARIED FALL SUPREME COURT DOCKET
Press contact:
James O’Neill
212-854-1584
Cell: 646-596-2935
October 3, 2007 (NEW YORK) – The Supreme Court will hear a varied and compelling list of cases in the new term, and Columbia Law School experts can speak on many of the key cases, as well as provide an overview of the court’s direction.
Baze v. Rees: A Kentucky case in which the court will look at whether lethal injection violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
- Michael Dorf, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, has clerked on the Supreme Court and specializes in civil procedure, comparative constitutions, federal courts and pragmatism. He comments on legal issues in his blog, Dorf on Law. He can be reached at 212-854-2672 or [email protected].
- Philip Genty, Clinical Professor of Law, has been an attorney at Prisoners’ Legal Services and has researched and taught on prisoners' rights, family law and appellate advocacy. He is available at 212-854-3250 or [email protected].
- Jeffrey Fagan, Professor of Law and Public Health and Co-Director of the Center for Crime, Community and Law, has conducted research on law and social policy since 1976 and speaks regularly to the media about prisoner rights and criminal law. He is available at 212-854-2624 or [email protected].
- Sherry Colb, Visiting Professor, has clerked on the Supreme Court and specializes in criminal procedure and mental health law. She is available at 212-854-4121 or [email protected].
Boumediene v. Bush and Al Odah v. United States: These cases looks at whether detainees held as enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay have an adequate vehicle to challenge a conviction or sentence since Congress stripped federal courts from having jurisdiction to hear those challenges.
- Michael Dorf, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, has clerked on the Supreme Court and specializes in civil procedure, comparative constitutions, federal courts and pragmatism. He comments on legal issues in his blog, Dorf on Law.. He can be reached at 212-854-2672 or [email protected].
Washington v. Washington State Republican Party: A challenge to a new primary law which lets candidates choose their party preference to be listed on the ballot without the party’s consent.
- Nathaniel Persily, Professor of Law, is an expert on voting rights, election law, and American politics, and has been a court-appointed expert for redistricting cases. He has an upcoming book on the Supreme Court. He can be reached by cell phone at 917-570-3223 or [email protected].
Crawford v. Marion County Election Board and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita: Two Indiana cases challenging the state’s voter ID law, which critics say creates a greater barrier to the poor and elderly.
- Nathaniel Persily, Professor of Law, is an expert on voting rights, election law, and American politics, and has been a court-appointed expert for redistricting cases. He has an upcoming book on the Supreme Court. He can be reached by cell phone at 917-570-3223 or [email protected].
CBOCS West Inc. v. Humphries: The case looks at whether a law that prohibits racial discrimination in employment and other business dealings also prohibits retaliation against people who file discrimination complaints.
- Susan Sturm, the George M. Jaffin Professor of Law and Social Responsibility, focuses on structural inequality in employment and higher education, employment discrimination, public law remedies, conflict resolution, and civil procedure. She can be reached at 212-854-7946 or [email protected]..
- Jack Greenberg, the Alphonse Fletcher Professor of Law, argued 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court as counsel with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, including Brown v. Board of Education. He focuses on civil rights law. He can be reached at 212-854-7946 or [email protected].
- Kendall Thomas, the Nash Professor of Law and co-director of the Center for the Study of Law and Culture, focuses on human rights, constitutional law, legal philosophy and feminist legal theory. He can be reached at 917-359-7042 or [email protected].
Gall v. United States and Kimbrough v. United States: These cases that look at judicial discretion in federal criminal sentencing.
- Daniel Richman, Professor of Law, is former Chief Appellate Attorney and Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1987-1992 and was later a consultant for the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General. He can be reached at [email protected] or 212-854-9370.
New York Board of Elections v. Torres: This case reviews a ruling that found unconsitutional New York State’s system for nominating state Supreme Court candidates.
- Nathaniel Persily, Professor of Law, is an expert on voting rights, election law, and American politics, has been a court-appointed expert for redistricting cases. He has an upcoming book on the Supreme Court. He can be reached by cell phone at 917-570-3223 or [email protected].
Reporters can also schedule live and taped TV interviews in the Law School’s fiber optic transmission studio. Contact James O’Neill at [email protected] .
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, stands at the forefront of legal education and of the law in a global society. Columbia Law School joins traditional strengths in international and comparative law, constitutional law, administrative law, business law and human rights law with pioneering work in the areas of intellectual property, digital technology, sexuality and gender, and criminal law.