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Conference Examines Challenges Facing an Independent Judiciary

Event to be held at the Hyatt Capitol Square March 21-22

December 26, 2001

 

Judicial independence is valued highly, although it is often interpreted in different ways. Most people believe it involves the freedom a judge should have to decide a case without pressure from public opinion, interest groups, the legislature, or the executive branch. Yet judicial independence must be balanced against other values, such as accountability to the electorate and deference to the work of the other branches of our government. How is this independence protected in elective systems that rely heavily on campaign fund raising, and in appointive systems that have become increasingly partisan?

On March 21 and 22, 2002, judges, university professors, and members of the bar will gather to examine these issues. Participants include the chief justices of the Wisconsin and Texas Supreme Courts, other current and former members of the judiciary, and leading political science and law scholars from across the country. Following panel discussions and keynote presentations, the conference will conclude with an open forum in which all speakers will interact with an audience of interested high school students, undergraduates, law students, political science graduate students, and members of the general public.

The conference is a three-way partnership among the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University (including its Center for Law, Policy, and Social Science, and the Ohio State Law Journal); the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at The Ohio State University; and the League of Women Voters Ohio Education Fund.

The Hyatt Capitol Square, 75 East State Street, The Ohio State House, and John Deaver Drinko Hall, 55 West 12th Avenue, all in Columbus, will be the sites of the meeting.

For registration information, contact Amanda Church, Symposium Editor of the Ohio State Law Journal at 614-292-6829 or contact her via e-mail at church.56@osu.edu.

The Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University is Ohio's flagship law school and is ranked 17th nationally among public law schools, according to U.S. News and World Report. Approximately 650 students attend classes at the school's John Deaver Drinko Hall, located at 55 West 12th Avenue. Notable alumni include the Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum '41, former Ohio Senator; the Honorable William B. Saxbe '45, former U.S. Attorney General and Ambassador to India; Ohio Senator George V. Voinovich '61; Ohio Congressman David L. Hobson '63; the Honorable Thomas J. Moyer '64, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice; the Honorable Paul E. Pfeifer '66, Ohio Supreme Court Justice; Ohio Congressman Michael G. Oxley '69; Erin Moriarty '77, CBS News/48 Hours reporter; and Evelyn Lundberg Stratton '78, Ohio Supreme Court Justice.

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