On March 24, 2011 the UDC Law Review at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL) is proud to present the 2011 Symposium:
Life After the War on Drugs: Reviewing Past and Present Policies with an Eye Toward Legal Reform
Free and open to the public. Please RSVP by going to the site: http://www.law.udc.edu/event/Symposium2011
(Advance registration is requested, but not required!)
Online registration is available until: 3/24/2011
(More detailed speaker biographies on website at http://www.law.udc.edu/event/Symposium2011)
Introduction (10:00 – 10:15 a.m.)
- John Brittain: Professor, UDC-DCSL; Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (2005-2009)
Panel 1: Drug Policy at Home and Abroad (10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
The first panel begins by looking back at past attempts to reform drug policies both in the United States and abroad. The panelists will also explore the strengths and weaknesses of current movements and what, if anything, the federal government in the United States can learn from the approaches taken by several states and the international community.
- Eric Sterling: Advisory Board Member, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
- Brooke Mascagni: PhD Candidate, University of California , Santa Barbara
- Jordan Blair Woods: PhD Candidate, Cambridge University ( U.K. ); J.D. University of California Los Angeles
Lunch (12:00 – 1:00 pm)
- Lunch Keynote Speaker: Ronald C. Machen, Jr.: United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
Panel 2: Conflicts between State and Federal Drug Laws (1:00 – 2:45 p.m)
As the District of Columbia enters an era of legalized medical marijuana and as numerous states propose relaxed drug laws, longstanding conflicts between the views of the Federal and State governments once again are coming to the forefront of political debate. The second panel will focus on the growing national sentiment toward reduced drug regulation, enforcement tactics aimed at subverting State policy decisions, unique strategies for attacking Federal laws, and its relation to Constitutional and Federalism concerns.
- Andrew Ferguson (Moderator): Professor, UDC-DCSL; Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia (2004-2010)
- Robert Hildum: Director, D.C. Dept. of Youth Rehabilitation Services (2010)
- Alex Kreit: Director, Center for Law and Social Justice, Thomas Jefferson School of Law ( San Diego , CA )
Panel 3: The Unknown Effects of the War on Drugs (3:00 – 5:00 p.m.)
The third panel of the day will explore the lesser-known effects and the "hidden casualties” of the War on Drugs. Each panelist will discuss a different issue that often is left out of the mainstream discourse surrounding drug policy reform effects.
- Brian Gilmore: Director, Michigan State University College of Law Housing Clinic
- Ken Lammers: Deputy Commonwealth Attorney, County of Wise and City of Norton in Virginia
- Michael Liszewski: Board of Directors, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Cocktail Reception (5:10 – 6:00 p.m.)
Plenary Panel: Life After the War on Drugs (6:00 – 9:00 p.m.)
The Symposium will conclude with a plenary panel focusing on the micro and macro-level social changes that may occur if the policy innovations discussed throughout the day are brought to bear. The plenary panel will examine the evolution and the future of sentencing for drug offenses, the best-practices for preparing communities to reintegrate recently released offenders, and other critical considerations related to shifting policies away from those utilized throughout the War on Drugs.
- Keynote Speaker: Wade Henderson: President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Jasmine Tyler : Deputy Director of National Affairs, Drug Policy Alliance
- Mark Osler: Professor, University of St. Thomas School of Law ( Minneapolis , MN )
- The Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr.: National Executive Director, National African-American Drug Policy Coalition
- Dr. Faye Taxman: Director, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, George Mason University