Constitutional Law Experts to Debate DC Voting Rights Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, May 18, 2009 – On Wednesday, May 20, American University Washington College of Law (WCL) will host a debate on the constitutionality of the DC Voting Rights Act. The conversation around this issue continues to swirl, and this debate aims to focus on the constitutionality of the legislation. The debate will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. (4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Room 603) and is open to the public.

The program, sponsored by Washington College of Law’s Program on Law and Government, will feature:

In the Affirmative
Jamin Raskin, Professor of Law and Director, Program on Law and Government at American University Washington College of Law

Stephen Pershing, Constitutional Law Litigation Center and George Washington University Law School Adjunct Professor and former Department of Justice attorney

In the Negative

Rick Dykema, Chief of Staff to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher: R., Cal

Jonathan Siegel, Professor of Law at George Washington UniversityLaw School

The Judges’ Panel

Shelley Broderick, Dean, DC Law School

Amanda Frost, Professor, American University Washington College of Law

Walter Smith, Executive Director, DC Appleseed Center

Michael Gold, Chair, Committee on Federal Policy Issues, Ward 3 Democrats

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Some background reading materials on the legislation and its constitutionality are available at http://www.wcl.american.edu/go/dcvra