“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”― Abraham Lincoln
“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony
As we approach the 2020 elections, the subjects of election integrity and voter participation are front and center.
This week, on Friday, October 4, 8:30am-5pm, we will host a forum, Election Integrity in a Time of Political Polarization.
The all-day conference, conceived by Professor Brian Glassman, and organized by Professor Glassman, Professor Milena Sterio, Public Interest Leader-in-Residence Susan Becker, Associate Dean and Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich, and their planning team, and co-sponsored by the ACLU of Ohio, will focus on gerrymandering, redistricting commissions, and the 2020 Census Citizenship question.
Registration is free for those not seeking CLE credit. The national, state, and local speaker lineup is impressive.
Our conference occurs at a critical time. The United States Supreme Court issued decisions in both the gerrymandering (Rucho v. Common Cause) and census question (Department of Commerce v. New York) cases at the end of the spring 2019 term.
We can expect additional legal challenges to various aspects of our voting procedures and system of representation—from independent redistricting commissions to efforts to address alleged voter fraud—in the run-up to the 2020 general election.
Because our law school has so many graduates who devote themselves to public service, we have a particular concern about the proper operation of the machinery of good and fair government. The electoral process is the most fundamental part of that machinery.
In addition to hosting the Conference, we plan to live stream it, so if you’re not able to attend, I encourage you to watch the event online. Liza Donnelly, a cartoonist and illustrator for such publications as The New Yorker, will live-draw the event. You’ll be able to see her drawings on Twitter and Instagram.
Please join us, for all or any part of the day on Friday, October 4th, for what will be an informative and engaging examination of these critically important issues.
Please also support Cleveland-Marshall’s mission by supporting our 3rd Annual C|M|LAW Hall of Fame Celebration honoring our 2019 C|M|LAW Hall of Fame Honorees on Friday, October 25, 2019, 5:30-8pm.
The October 25 Hall of Fame event gives us the opportunity not only to honor our distinguished inductees, but also to raise much-needed funds for scholarships for our students. The Hall of Fame celebration is the only annual fundraising event sponsored by the law school. It is our single best opportunity to raise funds for much-needed student scholarships.
Have a great day. Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
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My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our law school or our university.
My best,
Lee