On January 31, the University of Miami Law Review held its annual symposium at the University’s Coral Gables campus. This year’s symposium, entitled “How Far Have We Come Since 2000?,” focused on current developments in election law and voting rights. The symposium drew an impressive collection of nationally-renowned experts who participated in the day’s events.

Click here to view photos from the symposium.

Miami Law Review Editor-in-Chief Michael Pieciak delivered the opening remarks followed by the first panel, entitled “Where Do We Go From Here? Lessons Learned And New Approaches In Election Law.” Lida Rodriguez-Taseff of Duane Morris served as moderator for the panel that featured Edward Foley, professor of law at The Ohio State University Moritz School of Law; Richard Hasen, professor of law at Loyola Law School; UM Law Professor Frances Hill; and Nathaniel Persily, professor of law at Columbia Law School.

The second panel, moderated by Alvin Lindsey of Hogan & Hartson, was entitled “A View From The Front Lines: An Inside Look Into The 2008 Election” and featured two of America’s most predominate attorneys— Trevor Potter of Caplin & Drysdale and Robert Bauer of Perkins Coie. Potter is the former commissioner and chairman of the Federal Election Commission and founder of the Campaign Legal Center, and served as general counsel to the 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns of Senator John McCain. Bauer is the chair of the political law group of Perkins Coie, and served as counsel during the impeachment trial of President William Jefferson Clinton. He recently served as counsel to the 2008 presidential campaign of President Barack Obama.

Following the morning panels, Paul R. Verkuil, Acting Dean of the Law School, introduced David Boies of Boies, Scheller, & Flexner, who delivered the symposium’s keynote address. Boies is one of the nation’s preeminent trial attorneys, and is best known for serving as lead counsel for former Vice-President Al Gore in connection with the Supreme Court case of Bush v. Gore.

The third panel followed the keynote address and was moderated by Raquel Rodriguez of McDermott, Will & Emery. The panel was entitled “Protecting the Minority Voter: Ballot Access And The Future Of Section Five,” and featured Guy-Uriel E. Charles, professor of law at Duke University; Ellen D. Katz, professor of law at Michigan Law School; and UM Law Associate Professor JoNel Newman.

The day’s final panel was entitled “Making My Vote Count: Redistricting, Political Parties, Ballot Design, And Voter Disenfranchisement,” and was moderated by Joanne Harvest Koren, director of the UM Law’s Academic Achievement Program. The panel featured James Gardner, professor of law at Buffalo Law School; Sam Hirsch, partner at the law firm of Jenner & Block; Lawrence Norden of the Brennan Center for Justice; and UM Law Professor Martha Mahoney. 

The symposium was overseen by Jonathan Waldman, the law review’s project editor. The Miami Law Review will publish a symposium issue featuring the day’s participants in January 2010. For further information, please contact the Miami Law Review at (305) 284-2464.  

posted 10-February-2009