This series brings together noted figures in the world of law – lawyers, professors, journalists, and activists – to join in dialogue about their lives in the law along with how their work bears on some of the most controversial issues of our time. Ronald Collins, a retired law professor and the Library’s first Distinguished Lecturer, will host the series including conducting interviews and inviting dialogue. The series is meant for laypersons and specialists alike. Audience participation by way of questions and comments is welcome and encouraged.

Schedule to date:
Thursday, January 21 | Stanley Goldman: The Lingering Effects of the Holocaust
Monday, January 25 | David Cole: The Future of Civil Rights & Civil Liberties in the Roberts Court
Monday, February 1 | Amy Howe: SCOTUSblog and the Supreme Court
Monday, February 8  | Floyd Abrams: The Life of a First Amendment Lawyer
Monday, February 15 |  Laurence Tribe: Friend of the Court
Wednesday, February 17 | Richard Hasen: A Post-Mortem on the 2020 Elections and the Way Forward

Richard L. Hasen is Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. Hasen is a nationally recognized expert in election law and campaign finance regulation, writing as well in the areas of legislation and statutory interpretation, remedies, and torts. He is co-author of leading casebooks in election law and remedies. His op-eds and commentaries have appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Politico, and Slate. He served in 2020 as a CNN Election Law Analyst. Professor Hasen was named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by The National Law Journal in 2013.

Ronald Collins is the former Harold S. Shefelman scholar at the University of Washington Law School. He served as a Supreme Court fellow for Chief Justice Warren Burger. He is the editor of the weekly blog First Amendment News and is on the editorial board of SCOTUSblog.  He is also the co-chair of The First Amendment Salons and the co-director of the History Book Festival. He is the author of some dozen books on everything from artificial intelligence and free speech to campaign finance law, and on individuals including Justice Holmes, Machiavelli, comedian Lenny Bruce, and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

NOTE: this meeting is being conducted through Zoom. You MUST REGISTER to receive instructions for joining the meeting.

If you have need assistance with registration or getting your Zoom invitation, please email us.

Basic written instructions for using Zoom may be found here and a brief video tutorial may be found here.