Conference examines Judicial Independence

Judicial independence – the ability of a court to decide an issue without pressure from outside interests – is an ideal that we highly value. But there are many challenges to judicial independence, including an elective system that relies heavily on campaign fund raising, and appointive systems that have become increasingly partisan.
A national array of judges, scholars and lawyers will look at the current challenges and future prospects for our courts during a two-day conference, “Perspectives on Judicial Independence,” on Thursday and Friday (3/21 and 22).
A panel on “Bush v. Gore and Judicial Independence,” scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Friday, will be moderated by Judge Robert Duncan, former U.S. District Court judge; and currently a member of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.
Other conference panels include “Judicial Independence in the States,” “Campaign Finance and Beyond,” “Judicial Independence in the Federal Courts,” and “Why Do, or Should, We Value Judicial Independence?”
Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, will deliver the opening keynote luncheon address at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday. Prior to the chief justice’s address, conferees will be welcomed by Ohio State University President William Kirwan and Janice Patterson, former chair of the League of Women Voters Ohio Education Fund. Justice Abrahamson will be introduced by Chief Justice Thomas Moyer of the Ohio Supreme Court.
The complete schedule is at http://www.osu.edu/units/law/CLPSS/JudicialIndependence.htm
All panels and keynotes are open to media and mult boxes will be available.
The conference is a three-way partnership among The John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, the Moritz College of Law (including the Ohio State Law Journal and the Center for Law, Policy, and Social Science) and the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund.

WHAT:Perspectives on Judicial Independence conference offers panels, workshops and
forums on issues concerning our courts

WHEN: Thursday and Friday, March 21 and 22

WHERE:Thursday sessions will be held at the Capitol Square Hyatt, 75 E. State Street. Friday sessions will be at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State, 55 W. 12th Avenue.

WHY:Ohio State legal scholars offer insight and interchange with national opinion leaders on an issue that affects everyone

Contacts: James J. Brudney, Newton D. Baker/Baker and Hostetler Chair in Law, (614)-292-0795 or brudney.1@osu.edu or Liz Cutler Gates, (614)-292-0283 or gates.68@osu.edu